King's Birthday Honours recognise 1,182 people across the UK — community service leads the list

A 101-year-old theatre volunteer and a 20-year-old Lioness sit at opposite ends of this year's King's Birthday Honours, a list built as much around local service as public fame. The 2026 honours recognise 1,182 recipients from across the UK, with foster carers, health workers, arts figures, athletes, campaigners and public servants among those named. The Cabinet Office said the list places a particular focus on community change-makers, including people working in foster care, hygiene poverty, special educational needs, sport, health, culture and charity.

What We Know So Far

The King’s Birthday Honours list has been published with names from every part of the UK, from the Western Isles to Cornwall. The awards include knighthoods, damehoods, CBEs, OBEs, MBEs and British Empire Medals, recognising work in public life, community service, health, sport, culture, charity and business.

Among the best-known recipients are Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Donald McCullin, who are being made Members of the Order of the Companion of Honour. Professor Parveen Kumar receives a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for services to global medical education and health, while beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury receives a CBE for services to the beauty and cosmetics industry.

Sport is strongly represented. Kevin Sinfield has been given a knighthood for services to rugby league, rugby union and the MND community, after raising more than £10 million for MND charities. Several England Lionesses are also honoured after their Euros win: Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo receive MBEs for services to association football.

The age range is striking. The oldest recipient is 101-year-old Pauline Hough, who receives a BEM for services to theatre and the community in Nantwich. The youngest is 20-year-old Michelle Agyemang, one of the Lionesses named in the list.

Beyond household names, the regional picture shows how much of the honours system is rooted in local work. In Devon and Cornwall, 24 residents have been named, including Ian David Piper from Honiton, who receives a CBE for services to housing and regeneration, and Beryl Richards from Falmouth, who receives an MBE for services to children’s television. In Wales, 84 people are recognised, including Heather Stevens, appointed a DBE for services to the environment, young people and philanthropy.

The Response

Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the list as recognition of people whose work is often carried out away from the national spotlight. His comments matter because honours are formally announced through government channels, even though they are made in the King’s name.

Across the UK, people are quietly changing lives and strengthening their communities. This Honours List is a chance to recognise them.

He added that the dedication of those recognised showed how lasting change is built through compassion, resilience and commitment to others. That emphasis explains the shape of this year’s list: public prominence appears alongside long service in schools, hospitals, charities, emergency response, community groups and cultural organisations.

In Wales, Secretary of State Jo Stevens praised the recipients for contributions to communities, sport, charity, the arts and improving people’s lives, often through unpaid work. The Royal College of Nursing also congratulated nursing staff named in the honours, with its president Bejoy Sebastian calling the recognised nurses an inspiration to current and future staff.

What It Means for You

For readers in the UK, the honours are more than a ceremonial list of titles. They show the kinds of public and voluntary service being recognised nationally, from foster care and mountain rescue to affordable housing, nursing, suicide prevention and children’s television.

The regional examples make that practical. Karl Lester from Conwy receives an MBE after taking part in more than 555 rescue operations as a mountain rescue volunteer. David Cottle from Swansea receives a BEM after decades organising live jazz, with Swansea Jazz Club now in its 76th year and attracting more than 100 weekly attendees. In Norfolk, Keith Mitchell receives a BEM after helping deliver more than 5,000 affordable homes.

The list also shows a stated push on representation. GOV.UK said recipients from an ethnic minority background rose to 11.5%, while recipients with disabilities rose to 15.6%. Those figures matter because the honours system has long faced pressure to reflect the breadth of modern Britain, not just senior public offices or famous careers.

There is also a direct reader action point: anyone can nominate someone for an honour free of charge through the official honours nomination process. The Cabinet Office says nominations can be made for people who have achieved things worthy of national recognition.

Coming Up

The 2026 list has now been published, and individual organisations, councils and communities are beginning to mark the achievements of local recipients. Regional outlets have already published detailed local lists for areas including Devon, Cornwall, Wales, Norfolk and Ipswich.

The next practical step for members of the public is nomination. The official process remains open for people who want to put forward someone whose work in public service, charity, sport, culture, health, education or community life deserves recognition.

At a Glance

• 1,182 people have been recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours.
• Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Donald McCullin are being made Members of the Order of the Companion of Honour.
• Kevin Sinfield receives a knighthood for services to rugby and the MND community.
• Six England Lionesses receive MBEs after their Euros success.
• Wales has 84 recipients, while Devon and Cornwall have 24 between them.
• Anyone can nominate someone for an honour free of charge through GOV.UK.