We are proud to announce the inaugural Elton John Impact Awards, created in partnership with iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble, celebrating trailblazing LGBTQ+ community members and prominent allies. Hosted by Billy Porter and Elvis Duran, the special launches today as a podcast series on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

The Elton John Impact Awards recognizes those whose lifelong work has inspired change and shaped culture, while also giving back to LGBTQ+ organizations that uplift the communities they serve.

The program helps drive visibility and funding for a range of frontline organizations working to support the LGBTQ+ community, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In partnership with Brandi Carlile's Looking Out Foundation, additional funds will be granted to CenterLink, GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition, Outright International, SAGE, and the Trevor Project. Each organization addresses various critical needs across the LGBTQ+ community, such as supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ elder care, increasing access to preventative health services and treatment, and providing mental health support for young people.

This first-ever podcast awards ceremony recognizes the legendary individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, bringing together art, culture and impact.

2026 Elton John Impact Award Honorees

  • Jonathan Bailey – Film, television and stage actor who launched The Shameless Fund to support LGBTQ+ charities.
  • Laverne Cox - Emmy-nominated actress and Emmy-winning producer who has elevated transgender visibility in mainstream media and remains a powerful voice for equality and inclusion.
  • Melissa Etheridge - Grammy and Oscar-winning musician who has used her platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights for decades through personal storytelling within her music and cultural advocacy.
  • Billie Jean King - Sports icon and award-winning humanitarian who has spent her life advocating for gender and LGBTQ+ equality in and out of sports.
  • Orville Peck – Trailblazing country performer who uses his artistic persona to blend traditional country aesthetics with queer themes and uses his platforms to create visibility and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Chappell Roan – Pop icon who advocates for LGBTQ+ rights with her unapologetic artistry and founding of The Midwest Princess Project to support trans youth.

The podcast features candid, personal conversations with our Founder, Elton John, and Chair, David Furnish, and this year’s honorees. Listeners are invited behind the scenes to hear the stories, challenges, and defining moments that shaped each honoree’s journey, told in their own words like never before. To mark the inaugural broadcast, multiplatinum recording artist Dove Cameron will deliver a special performance of 'Your Song' in tribute to Elton’s legacy.

“I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling to connect us and challenge us,” said Elton John. “These conversations bring together the people who have shaped LGBTQ+ culture and fought for dignity at a time when the world too often looked away. Some are friends who stood beside me through the AIDS crisis, others are carrying the torch forward with the new generation. Hearing their stories and reflecting on how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go, is deeply humbling. This is history that cannot be forgotten and these are voices that must be heard.”

“The Elton John Impact Awards spotlight the vital work of organizations protecting LGBTQ+ communities and advancing health equity around the world,” said David Furnish. “At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and health equity remain under threat globally, investing in organizations on the frontlines has never been more urgent.”

For more information visit EltonJohnImpactAwards.com.