Ridley Scott and Glenn Close to Receive Honorary Oscars at 2026 Governors Awards

According to an announcement by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, director Ridley Scott and actress Glenn Close will finally receive their long-overdue Oscars at the 2026 Governors Awards. The honorary awards recognise legendary careers that have shaped modern cinema, whilst also reviving debates about whether artists with such acclaimed bodies of work should have received competitive wins much earlier.

What this honorary recognition means

With honorary awards, the appeal lies in recognising decades of influence rather than a single performance or film. For figures like Ridley Scott and Glenn Close, the honour celebrates careers that have shaped modern cinema. According to the Academy, these awards acknowledge "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement."

This recognition signals the Academy's attempt to address past oversights. Both Scott and Close have become icons despite their competitive Oscar drought — a situation that's become increasingly awkward as their peers have been recognised.

The recipients and their legendary careers

Legendary director Sir Ridley Scott, 88, has created some of cinema's most iconic films, including Alien and Blade Runner. Despite this legacy, he's received only three Best Director nominations for Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down. As a producer, he shared a Best Picture nomination for The Martian, though his 2000 epic Gladiator did win Best Picture.

Glenn Close, 79, has been a screen presence since the 1970s with eight Oscar nominations but zero wins. She earned Best Supporting Actress nods for The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, and Hillbilly Elegy. Her Best Actress nominations came for Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, and The Wife.

Joining them is Floyd Norman, Disney's first Black animator, now 90. He's previously been honoured as a Disney Legend for his work on Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, and more recent films like Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc.

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award recipients

This year's Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award goes to longtime indie producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler. Their Killer Films banner has produced Oscar-worthy films including Boys Don't Cry, Far From Heaven, Carol, Past Lives, and May December.

The Thalberg Award recognises "creative producers whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production." Vachon and Koffler's independent film legacy spans decades of critically acclaimed cinema.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Ridley Scott ever won an Oscar?

No, despite three Best Director nominations for Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down, plus a Best Picture nomination as producer of The Martian, Ridley Scott has never won an individual Oscar until this honorary award.

How many Oscar nominations does Glenn Close have?

Glenn Close has earned eight Oscar nominations throughout her career without a win — four for Best Supporting Actress and four for Best Actress across films spanning from The World According to Garp to Hillbilly Elegy.

Who is Floyd Norman and why is he significant?

Floyd Norman, now 90, was Disney's first Black animator who worked on classics like The Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty, and The Sword in the Stone. He left Disney in the 1960s to co-found AfroKids animation studio before returning in the early 1970s.

When will the 99th Oscars ceremony air?

The 99th Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast on 14 March 2027, hosted by Conan O'Brien for the third consecutive year. UAE broadcast details haven't been confirmed yet.

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