Jacob Elordi, Chase Infiniti, Wagner Moura, Sydney Sweeney, and Teyana Taylor are set to receive the prestigious Virtuoso Award at the 2026 Santa Barbara Film Festival. They will be honored on February 8, during the festival’s 41st annual event, which runs from February 4 to 14, 2026, across the city.
Established to celebrate remarkable talent, the Virtuoso Award recognizes a select group of individuals whose exceptional contributions to film have sparked significant discussions this year. Past recipients have included notable figures such as Kieran Culkin, Selena Gomez, and Zendaya.
Dave Karger, host of Turner Classic Movies, will return for his sixteenth year to lead the evening’s ceremony and shared his excitement about this year’s diverse group of honorees. “This year’s group of Virtuosos are as impressive as they are eclectic,” he stated, highlighting the international nature of the recipients, as well as their distinct backgrounds in both film and television.
In addition to the Virtuoso Award, the festival will also honor Adam Sandler with the Maltin Modern Master Award on February 5, 2026, and Cynthia Erivo will receive the Kirk Douglas Award at a fundraising event on December 4, 2025.
The full list of 2026 Santa Barbara Film Festival Virtuoso Award recipients includes:
– Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
– Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another”
– Amy Madigan, “Weapons”
– Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”
– Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
– Sydney Sweeney, “Christy”
– Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”
– Jeremy Allen White, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”
The festival promises an exciting celebration of cinematic excellence and aims to shine a spotlight on the incredible talents shaping the film industry today.