Orville Peck, on the cover of Paper magazine
A powerhouse lineup of trailblazing artists, activists, and athletes are set to be celebrated this Pride Month.
Music legend Sir Elton John has revealed the six LGBTQ+ icons selected as the inaugural honorees for the 2026 Elton John Impact Awards.
The star-studded roster spans generations of queer excellence, honoring musicians Chappell Roan, Orville Peck, and Melissa Etheridge; celebrated actors Jonathan Bailey and Laverne Cox; and sports pioneer and tennis legend Billie Jean King.
Each has been chosen for their profound contributions to LGBTQ+ visibility, culture, and advocacy.
Rather than a traditional televised gala, the historic event is adapting a modern, accessible audio format designed to reach listeners globally.
The Elton John Impact Awards will officially launch on June 1, 2026, rolling out as an intimate podcast series available on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms.
Concurrently, the celebration will broadcast as a massive audio special airing across iHeartRadio’s dedicated PRIDE stations. The series promises to dive deep into the lives, legacies, and personal journeys of the six honorees, offering fans a unique, front-row seat to their stories of resilience and triumph.
