New Year Honours list recognises Cynthia Erivo, Meera Syal, Idris Elba, Paule Constable and more

This year’s New Year Honours list has been revealed, with a plethora of individuals from the worlds of arts, performance and culture recognised for their services.

Actor and musician Idris Elba has been knighted for services to young people. For the stage, Elba has served on the producing teams of Shifters and School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. He also appeared in Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of Cats.

Another performer who has been recognised is Meera Syal, who most recently starred in A Tupperware of Ashes at the National Theatre and lent her voice to immersive production Storehouse. She has received a Damehood for services to Literature, Drama and Charity.

Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano), Julia Fawcett (CEO of the Lowry) and Max Richter (composer) were each awarded with CBEs (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).

Performers recognised with OBEs include Warwick Davis, Matt Lucas, and Richard Osman

Also recognised with OBEs were lighting designer Paule Constable, who earlier this year received the WhatsOnStage Award for Services to UK Theatre, the Young Vic’s CEO and artistic director Nadia Fall and dancer Anna Du Boisson.

Award-winning stage and screen performer Cynthia Erivo was made MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to Music and Drama. The Wicked star will be back in the West End in early 2026 in a solo telling of Dracula. Other names include musician and comedian Bill Bailey, comedy actor Paul Chuckle, Sally Lindsay (performer), Jon Gilchirst (artistic director and CEO of Birmingham Hippodrome, joint president of UK Theatre), Emma D’Souza (executive director of audiences and commercial for Society of London Theatre), Balbir Singh (artistic director of the Balbir Singh dance company), Kathryn Mary Geraghty (head of technical qualifications at the National Theatre), and Rachel Tackley (creative director of Riverside Studios).

Overseas, theatre director and playwright Sean Aita has received an MBE for services to English Language and UK Culture in Europe, as has principal ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre, Thomas Forster, for services to Dance.

Outside of the world of theatre, following a fantastic summer of women’s sport, there are honours for a number of the Lionesses and Red Roses. At the same time, Gabrielle Logan is being awarded for her services to sports broadcasting and to charity. Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill are being awarded a Knighthood and Damehood, respectively, for their services to Ice Skating and Voluntary Service.