12/30/2025

The annual list honors British figures for their work in their respective fields.

Idris Elba DJs at Sphere on February 10, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Darren Gerrish/Getty Images

Idris Elba, Ellie Goulding and Cynthia Erivo are among the entertainment and music figures recognized in the U.K.’s New Year Honors List.

The King’s annual list acknowledges and honors figures from across British society with knighthoods and damehoods, as well as CBEs (Commander), OBEs (Officer) and MBEs (Member). The former is the highest honor prior to earning the title of Sir or Dame with a knighthood or damehood. A total of 1,157 recipients from the worlds of politics, sport, entertainment, science and more appear in this year’s list.

Elba has been awarded a knighthood in the list released on Tuesday (Dec. 30) and he will assume the title of Sir Idris Elba. The honor comes in recognition of his charity work with young people, having launched an anti-knife crime campaign and founded the Elba Hope Foundation alongside his wife Sabrina, which provides grants to organizations across the UK, the US and Africa.

As a teenager, Elba was a beneficiary of the Prince’s Trust, and was given a £1,500 grant to attend the National Youth Music Theatre program. He went on to appear as an actor in hit TV shows The Wire and Luther, and has released music and performed as DJ Big Driis at festivals across the world.

Other music figures to appear in the list include Wicked star and performer Cynthia Erivo and singer Ellie Goulding, both of whom are awarded MBEs. Erivo is recognized for her work across the drama and arts space, while Goulding is also recognized for her efforts towards biodiversity and the climate, having worked with the UN as a global environmental ambassador.

Max Richter is honored as a CBE less than two weeks prior to the physical release of his original score for the Oscar-tipped film Hamnet, directed by Chloe Zhao and starring Paul Mescal. Scottish singer Eve Graham receives an MBE for services to the music industry. Graham is a founding member of The New Seekers, and had a global hit with a version of “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” in 1972.

Other industry figures include Karen Ruth Emanuel, founder and chief executive officer of Key Production Group, who receives an OBE for services to music; , a former sector specialist at the Department for Business and Trade, who is awarded an OBE for his work for the music industry; and Live Music Now chair , who is awarded an MBE for services to music and charity.