George Clooney to Receive Film at Lincoln Centers 2026 Chaplin Award

George Clooney will receive Film at Lincoln Center‘s prestigious Chaplin Award, which will be presented to the two-time Oscar winner at a gala event in New York in April.

The actor-writer-director-producer will be celebrated for his many contributions to film and TV, which, in addition to the above Oscars, have earned him multiple Golden Globes and SAG Awards and an AFI Life Achievement Award. Clooney’s latest film, Jay Kelly, in which he plays a movie star reflecting on his life and his relationships with his family members and friends, hit theaters earlier this month and will begin streaming on Netflix on Dec. 5. The film, directed by Noah Baumbach from a screenplay by Baumbach and Emily Mortimer, also stars Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson and Riley Keough.

In addition to Jay Kelly, which had its New York premiere at the NY Film Festival earlier this fall, Clooney’s credits include Syriana; O Brother, Where Art Thou; Up in the Air; Gravity; The Descendants; Michael Clayton; and the Ocean’s trilogy. This year he also earned a Tony nomination for his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck.

“It was a true pleasure to welcome George Clooney to Film at Lincoln Center in September for the premiere of Jay Kelly, a highlight of the 63rd New York Film Festival,” FLC president Daniel Battsek said in a statement. “We are honored to invite him back to celebrate a professional life that reflects such extraordinary range and purpose. From award-winning performances to standout producing work to acclaimed directing, George brings a distinctive blend of intelligence, craft and social conscience to everything he does. His contributions continue to inspire audiences and artists around the world.”

FLC board of directors chairman Dan Stern added, “George Clooney embodies a rare blend of artistry, generosity, humor and integrity. His unmistakable onscreen charisma is matched by the excellence he brings behind the camera as a director and producer, consistently using his influence to champion emerging talent and shine a light on urgent humanitarian issues around the world. We are proud to present George with the 51st Chaplin Award, placing him among the cinematic luminaries who have received this honor over the last half-century.”

In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Clooney is known for his humanitarian efforts, including advocating for human rights in Sudan. He has addressed the United Nations Security Council, co-founded the “Not On Our Watch” initiative to prevent mass atrocities and launched the Satellite Sentinel Project to monitor human rights violations.

Clooney joins an illustrious group of Chaplin Award recipients including Pedro Almodóvar, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, Spike Lee, Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier and Gregory Peck.

The 51st Chaplin Award gala ceremony is set for Monday, April 27, at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in Manhattan.