Understand how the Academy Award works, celebrating the body of work and legacy of great legends of world cinema
Although the televised Oscar ceremony is the moment of greatest glory for films released in the last year, there is an equally prestigious statuette, but with a different purpose: the Honorary Oscar (Honorary Academy Award). Unlike competitive categories, which judge a specific performance, this award celebrates a lifetime of dedication to the seventh art.
Often seen as a form of “historical correction” by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Honorary Oscar recognizes brilliant careers that, at times, were not awarded in traditional categories. Since 2009, the delivery of these figurines has taken place in a separate and exclusive event, the Governors Awardswhich precedes the big cinema party.
What is the honorary Oscar
The Honorary Oscar is a distinction awarded by the Academy’s Board of Governors. According to the institution’s official definition, the award aims to honor “extraordinary lifetime achievements, exceptional contributions to the state of cinematographic arts and sciences, or for notable services rendered to the Academy”.
Unlike categories like Best Actor or Best Picture, where winners are chosen by the vote of thousands of members, the Honorary Oscar is decided by a select group of industry leaders. The statuette presented is identical to the traditional Oscar.
Historically, the award has served to recognize:
- Pioneering: Technical or narrative innovations that changed cinema.
- Legacy: Legendary actors and directors who never won a competitive contest (like Charles Chaplin, Jackie Chan and Samuel L. Jackson).
- Set of works: Professionals whose films have enriched global culture for decades.
Difference Between Honorary Oscar and Jean Hersholt Award
It is common for there to be confusion among the honors given at the Governors Awards. Although both are special awards, their criteria are different:
- Honorary Oscar: Focus on artistic excellence and in the technical or creative contribution to cinema.
- Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: It also presents an Oscar statuette, but recognizes an individual from the film industry whose humanitarian efforts brought credit to the industry.
While the Honorary celebrates the artist, the Jean Hersholt celebrates the citizen and their social causes.
Oscar 2026 Winners (Governors Awards)
For the 2026 Oscar cycle (referring to the 16th Governors Awards ceremony, held in November 2025), the Academy has selected a group of generation-defining veterans.
Those honored with the Honorary Oscar they were:
- Tom Cruise: One of the greatest action stars and producers in modern history, recognized for his dedication to the big-screen cinematic experience and for performing his own stunts.
- Debbie Allen: Acclaimed actress, choreographer, director and producer, with a vast career that spans film, television and theater, opening doors for black artists in the industry.
- Wynn Thomas: Visionary production designer known for his long collaboration with Spike Lee and creating the visual aesthetics of modern classics.
Besides them, the singer and actress Dolly Parton was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic initiatives focused on childhood literacy.
A relevant highlight for the Brazilian public was the presence of the actor Wagner Moura at the gala event, participating in the campaign for the film “The Secret Agent”, reinforcing the importance of the Governors Awards as a networking space for the awards season.
Who wins and how is the choice
There is no application process for the Honorary Oscar. The choice is made exclusively by the Board of Governors. They meet annually to discuss names that have been “forgotten” or that transcend annual categories.
Often, the award is given to legends who, ironically, never took home the competitive statuette. Notable examples include:
- Alfred Hitchcock: Nominated five times for Best Director, he never won. Received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial (similar to honorary) in 1968.
- Peter O’Toole: He held the record for most nominations without a win (8 times) until receiving the Honorary in 2003.
- Spike Lee: He received the honorary award in 2015, years before winning his first competitive Oscar for “Klansman.”
Curiosities about the award
The Governors Awards ceremony is not broadcast live on TV along with the main Oscars. This change occurred in 2009 to ensure that honorees had enough time to speak without the pressure of television commercials. However, edited excerpts from the delivery are shown during the official Oscar party.
Other interesting facts include:
- The youngest: Actress Shirley Temple received a “Juvenile Award” (a miniature version of the Oscar, precursor to the honorary) at the age of 6, in 1935.
- Historic ovation: When Charles Chaplin returned from exile to receive his Honorary Oscar in 1972, he received a 12-minute standing ovation, the largest ovation in the Academy’s history.
- Animation: Walt Disney holds the record for Oscars, and many of them were honorary, including a special trophy for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” which consisted of a large statuette and seven miniatures.
Where to watch
As the Governors Awards event is a private gala dinner and not fully televised, the general public only has access to the speeches and highlights through the official Governors Awards channel. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences no YouTube or through the Academy’s social media.
During the Oscars 2026 live broadcast (scheduled for March), there will be a special segment dedicated to recapping the night honoring Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas.
The Honorary Oscar stands as a vital reminder that an artist’s impact is not measured simply by a single year of success, but by the resonance of their voice over decades. It’s the industry’s definitive way of saying “thank you” to its masters.
