Idris Elba received a knighthood in King Charles‘ 2026 New Year Honours list for his contribution to society. The honour recognizes his services through his foundation, which brought attention to important issues.
Idris Elba gets knighted in New Year Honours list
According to the list published by The Gazette, Idris Elba, 53, has been awarded a knighthood in King Charles’ 2026 New Year Honours list. The honour recognizes his longstanding commitment and services to young people through the Elba Hope Foundation. He co-founded the organization with his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba.
The Luther star has since responded to the recognition (via Sky News). He said, “I receive this honour on behalf of the many young people whose talent, ambition, and resilience has driven the work of the Elba Hope Foundation.”
He added, “I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young people and to the responsibility we all share to help them find an alternative to violence.”
Over the years, the actor has consistently spoken out about youth violence, while also promoting educational and economic opportunities. Furthermore, The Wire actor also launched the Don’t Stop Your Future movement, which aims to tackle knife crimes.
Outside of philanthropic work, Elba is popular for his acting career in film and television. His notable works include Luther, The Wire, A House of Dynamite, Pacific Rim, Thor, Zootopia, and a lot more.
Additionally, he also ventured into directing with projects like Playhouse Presents. Later, he made his feature directorial debut with Yardie in 2017. Furthermore, he performs as a DJ and R&B singer using his moniker DJ Big Driis and Idris.
King Charles’ New Year Honours List is the annual public announcement of individuals recognized by the Crown for notable contributions to society in arts, sciences, charity, and other services. Cynthia Erivo and Ellie Goulding are also in this year’s list.
