The Academy Museum's 2026 Gala HonoreesPhoto Credit: John Carpenter, photo by Sophie Gransard; Colman Domingo, photo by Raul Romo; Charlize Theron, photo by Marc Piasecki.

John Carpenter, Colman Domingo, and Charlize Theron to Be Honored at Academy Museum Gala

The event, which takes place October 17, will be co-chaired by Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, and Robert Rodriguez.

by · IndieWire

The Academy Museum has announced three honorees for its sixth annual fundraising gala: John Carpenter, Charlize Theron, and Colman Domingo. The gala is set to take place on Saturday, October 17, with Steven Spielberg, Robert Rodriguez, and Kate Capshaw serving as the event’s co-chairs.

Carpenter, a legendary genre filmmaker who changed the horror industry forever with “Halloween” and went on to direct hits like “The Thing,” “Escape from New York,” “They Live,” and “Big Trouble in Little China,” will receive the Luminary Award. Theron, the Oscar-winning star of “Monster” whose penchant for physical transformations has given her a filmography that includes everything from “Mad Max: Fury Road” to “The Odyssey,” will receive the Icon Award. Domingo, the prolific actor with an Emmy win and two Oscar and Tony nominations, is set to receive the Vantage Award.

The honorees will also participate in additional programming leading up to the event. Carpenter will host three nights of film screenings in September as part of the museum’s new “The Horror Show” exhibition, while Theron will participate in a “Fury Road” Q&A hosted by the museum’s Teen Council.

“The Academy Museum Gala is a celebration of the artists and storytellers whose work continues to shape the cultural impact of cinema around the world. For our sixth annual Gala, we are honored to recognize John Carpenter, Colman Domingo, and Charlize Theron, whose extraordinary careers exemplify the creativity, innovation, and excellence that continues to move the industry forward,” Academy Museum director and president Amy Homma said in a statement. “The museum’s work is made possible through the generosity of so many, and we are especially thankful to our partners at Rolex, our co-chairs, and our founding supporters for their ongoing commitment to our mission.”

The Academy Museum Host Committee includes Jessica Alba, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman, Jon M. Chu, Kirsten Dunst, Nicholas Galitzine, Ludwig and Serena Göransson, Regina Hall, Kate Hudson, Jessica Lange, Greta Lee, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Rami Malek, Demi Moore, Olivia Munn, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Questlove, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, Bird Runningwater, and Teyana Taylor.