Penélope Cruz, Isabelle Huppert, and Lee Chang-dong lead the first round of honorees named for the 2026 TIFF Tribute Awards, set for September 13 during the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 10–16. Variety broke the announcement on July 29.

Cruz will receive the TIFF Special Tribute Award. She arrives at the festival with two films in tow: the Spanish-language drama La Bola Negra and Bunker, opposite Javier Bardem, directed by Florian Zeller. The Special Tribute is a career-spanning recognition, distinct from the category-specific honours handed out the same night.

Isabelle Huppert and Rosalind Eleazar will each receive the TIFF Tribute Performer Award. Huppert reunites with director Marc Fitoussi for the comedy All About Corinne, a gala presentation. Eleazar appears in Misty Green, written and directed by Chris Rock.

South Korean film-maker Lee Chang-dong will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, named for the late critic Roger Ebert. The honour coincides with the Special Presentations premiere of Possible Love, his first feature since Burning in 2018 — an eight-year gap that gives the tribute a homecoming weight.

Siân Heder rounds out the first announced group, receiving the TIFF Tribute Award in impact media. The category recognises work that advances social change through storytelling. Heder makes her TIFF debut with the world premiere of Being Heumann, which also serves as the festival's opening night film. Her previous feature, CODA, won best picture at the 2022 Academy Awards.

The Tribute Awards gala is TIFF's largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds support expanded access to cinema, artist development programmes, and industry initiatives. For the festival, the evening doubles as a marquee moment — a roomful of buyers, distributors, and press gathered in the same week that shapes the autumn release calendar.

Each honoree arrives with new work in the festival lineup, tying the tributes directly to the films TIFF is programming this year. Cruz, Huppert, and Lee are established names on the global festival circuit; Eleazar and Heder represent the breadth the selection committee reaches for. Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, oversees the festival's programming and leadership.

The July 29 announcement is the first wave of honorees. More names are expected before the September 13 gala.