Women of the Year 2026: Eleven Honours, From Glenn Close’s Icon Award to Winkleman’s Deadpan Triumph

The Harper’s Bazaar UK Women of the Year ceremony returned to Claridge’s in London on Thursday 5 November, handing out eleven honours to figures from film, television, theatre, fashion, art and sport. The evening mixed Hollywood glamour with British comic timing, and the speeches had as much impact as the gowns.

The Women of the Year winners at a glance

Glenn Close took the headline Icon Award, presented by Harper’s Bazaar UK editor-in-chief Lydia Slater. It recognised a five-decade career spent playing complex, challenging women. Mikey Madison was named Film Actress of the Year for her Oscar-winning role in Anora and her portrayal of a real-life whistleblower in The Social Reckoning. Cate Blanchett won Theatre Actress, presented by Elizabeth Debicki, for her dual-role performance in the National Theatre’s Electra/Persona.

Claudia Winkleman collected Television Icon, days after the final of The Celebrity Traitors aired. Bella Maclean won Breakthrough, and Amelia Dimoldenberg, host of Chicken Shop Date, received the Innovator Award. Sarah Burton of Givenchy won Designer, and Sam Taylor-Johnson was named Artist of the Year. Stephanie Cavalli won Model of the Year after a year in which she became a symbol of age inclusivity in fashion.

Sprinter Dina Asher-Smith received the Sporting Inspiration Award for her record-breaking run at the European Championships. National Theatre leaders Indhu Rubasingham and Kate Varah shared the Change-Maker Award for championing new voices and broadening access to British theatre.

Laughter, tears and a tribute to Jilly Cooper

The ceremony’s most affecting moment came from Maclean. Her Rivals co-star Alex Hassell presented her award with affectionate teasing, and she responded with a tearful tribute to the late Dame Jilly Cooper, the author of the source novel. She thanked Cooper for a role that launched her career and a character that made her reflect on how she wants to show up in the world.

Winkleman’s win was the comic high point. Her friend, the author Emma Freud, delivered a mock-insulting introduction about her fringe and her wardrobe. Winkleman then joked that she had become so absorbed in filming that she briefly forgot she had a child at home. “He’ll never see this,” she added, deadpan.

Asher-Smith struck a more serious note. She spoke about the many sides of female athletes, who she said are too often seen as little more than smaller versions of male competitors.

What the guests wore

Accounts of the red carpet differ on some details. The Standard described Blanchett in a constellation-print Mary Katrantzou gown, while the Daily Mail called her dress blue with an intricately painted, artwork-style skirt. Both agree it was among the night’s showstoppers. The Standard put Madison in a strapless Dior gown, whereas the Mail described a pale grey dress.

Isla Fisher was another standout, though outlets described her look differently: lace cap sleeves, short sleeves and fringed sleeves all appear in the coverage. Cat Deeley wore a bell-sleeved, 1970s-inspired dress with a chain-link belt. Holly Willoughby wore an Alexander McQueen blazer mini dress, and Winkleman chose a tailored black blazer and boots. Other guests included Lesley Manville, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Annabelle Wallis, Letitia Wright and Taylor Russell.

A sister event to the US Icons night

The UK ceremony is separate from Harper’s Bazaar’s US Icons event, whose honourees this year included Céline Dion and Charlotte Rampling. The British event was held in partnership with The Platinum Card by American Express for a third consecutive year. According to the Mirror, it is one year short of its 20th anniversary, which suggests a milestone edition in 2027. Slater said the awards have “a rich heritage of recognising the inspirational women whose achievements are shaping contemporary culture.”

This year’s Women of the Year list favoured performers, but the Change-Maker and Sporting Inspiration awards, along with the Model and Designer honours, widened its scope beyond the screen.

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