2026 Albies honourees named for London ceremony
Two journalists from Kyrgyzstan, a campaigner for girls in Malawi, a photographer from the United States, a legal support organisation in Congo and a senior executive at Microsoft will share the stage at the 2026 Albies.
The Clooney Foundation for Justice, the human rights group set up by actor George Clooney and barrister Amal Clooney, named the six recipients for this year's awards, as reported by WWD. The ceremony will be held at the Natural History Museum in London on 9 October 2026.
It is the fifth edition of the awards. The Albies is the foundation's annual fundraiser, honouring people working to defend human rights. The prize is named after Justice Albie Sachs, a hero of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
George and Amal Clooney created the awards through their foundation. The Kyrgyz honourees are Bolot Temirov and Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy, both journalists. Vanessa Mwangala, from Malawi, is honoured as an advocate for girls' rights. Lynsey Addario, from the United States, is honoured as a photojournalist.
Justice Plus, an organisation based in Congo, and Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, the US technology company, complete the list. The list spans journalism, grassroots campaigning, legal support and business. Each name reflects a different route into rights work.
Presenter Graham Norton will return as host. He will lead the evening in London for the second year in a row. Musicians Jackson Browne and Vic Mensa will perform during the ceremony.
Gucci, the Italian fashion house, joins this year as Sentinel Sponsor. It will also act as the Albies' exclusive fashion partner. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, the British beauty brand, stays on as a sponsor. The company has backed the event for all five years.
The London setting is now familiar. The 2025 Albies were held at the Natural History Museum on the evening of 3 October, in what the foundation described as a London debut. George and Amal Clooney hosted that edition in person, according to People. The event is described by Vogue as an annual fundraiser celebrating human rights defenders.
For anyone following from afar, the mix is the draw. Reporters, a community legal group, a girls' rights campaigner, a photographer and a tech executive do not often collect the same prize. In London, they will do it on one stage.
