Jacob Elordi, Chase Infiniti, Wagner Moura, Sydney Sweeney and Teyana Taylor are among the recipients of the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s 2026 Virtuoso Award. They will receive their awards on February 8, during the 41st annual festival, which takes place February 4-14, 2026 across the city.
The Virtuoso Award is an “honor established to recognize a select group of talents whose exceptional film work this year has placed them at the center of the conversation around remarkable film performances,” according to the festival. Past honorees include Kieran Culkin, Selena Gomez, Mikey Madison, Lily Gladstone, Andrew Scott, Austin Butler, Danielle Deadwyler, Ke Huy Wuan and Zendaya.
Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger, who will host the February 8 evening for the sixteenth year, noted, “This year’s lineup of Virtuosos is as impressive as it is eclectic. We have three international actors, two megastars from acclaimed television series, two breakout stars from the latest Paul Thomas Anderson film, and even a single 40-year-old Academy Award winner.”
As previously announced, the festival will present Adam Sandler with the Maltin Modern Master Award on 5 February 2026 and Cynthia Erivo with the Kirk Douglas Award during a fundraising event on December 4, 2025.
Below is the full list of 2026 Santa Barbara Film Festival Virtuoso Award recipients.
Jacob Elordi“Frankenstein”
Chase the Infiniti“One battle after another”
Amy Madigan“arms”
Wagner Moura“The Secret Agent”
Renate Reinsve“Sentimental Value”
Sydney Sweeney“Christie”
Teyana Taylor“One battle after another”
Jeremy Allen White“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”
