Governors Awards 2026: Glenn Close, Ridley Scott And Floyd Norman To Receive Honorary Oscars

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Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the recipients of its prestigious Governors Awards for 2026, honoring some of the most influential figures in cinema. Veteran actress Glenn Close, director Ridley Scott and animator Floyd Norman will receive Honorary Oscars in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the film industry. Meanwhile, independent film champions Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will be presented with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. The honors will be handed out during the 17th Governors Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on November 15 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Ovation Hollywood.

Glenn Close Finally Receives Academy Recognition

For Glenn Close, the Honorary Oscar is a significant milestone in a remarkable career spanning decades. Widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, Close has earned eight Academy Award nominations throughout her career but has never won an Oscar. This places her alongside the late Peter O'Toole as the performer with the most acting nominations without a win in Oscar history. Despite the absence of an Oscar victory, Close's body of work includes unforgettable performances in films such as Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons and Hillbilly Elegy.

Ridley Scott Honoured After Three Nominations With Zero Wins

Legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott will also receive an Honorary Oscar, ending one of the Academy's most surprising award misses. Scott, who is the eighth highest grossing director of all time at the box office, has been nominated three times for Best Director and once as a producer for Best Picture, yet he has never won an Academy Award. The director's influence on modern cinema is undeniable, with classics such as Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Black Hawk Down and Gladiator shaping generations of filmmakers.While Gladiator won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Scott himself did not receive an Oscar. The Honorary Award now recognises a career that has transformed the science fiction, action and historical epic genres while leaving a lasting mark on global cinema.

Joining Close and Scott among the Honorary Oscar recipients is Floyd Norman, who made history as Disney's first Black animator and became an influential figure whose work inspired generations of artists and storytellers. Over the course of his long and distinguished career, he contributed to numerous animated projects while helping pave the way for greater diversity within the entertainment industry.

Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler Receive Thalberg Award

Producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, one of the Academy's most prestigious honours. The duo is best known for championing independent cinema through their company Killer Films. Over the years, they have supported bold, distinctive and often very unconventional storytelling, which makes this recognition more special.The awards will be presented during the 17th Governors Awards on November 15, celebrating five individuals whose work has helped define and transform the art of filmmaking.