Elton John Impact Awards Honor LGBTQ+ Icons with New Podcast Series and Audio Special
May 18, 2026
Charitable partners for the event are the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Brandi Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation, with the latter noting decades of grants across 47 countries since 1992.
Gayle Troberman of iHeartMedia emphasizes using voice to support frontline organizations and the power of storytelling in driving change.
The honorees and format center on storytelling, dialogue, and advocacy, underscoring charitable impact and community support.
Honorees include Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck, and Chappell Roan, chosen by a panel with strong ties to Elton John.
The Elton John Impact Awards, a collaboration between iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble, celebrate LGBTQ+ trailblazers and allies with a podcast series and an audio special set to air on June 1, highlighting impact, visibility, and funding for LGBTQ+ organizations.
The honorees are described as lifelong changemakers who blend art, advocacy, and community impact to inspire culture.
Procter & Gamble continues its sponsorship partnership with iHeartMedia for the awards, a collaboration that has endured since the event’s inception.
P&G’s Brent Miller says the aim is to celebrate cultural icons and organizations that advance equality and inclusion globally.
The awards are created in partnership with Procter & Gamble, reinforcing the sponsor’s long-standing role.
David Furnish stresses the urgency of funding frontline LGBTQ+ organizations amid ongoing rights and health equity threats, with the awards spotlighting frontline work.
Furnish frames the event as a platform to advance health equity and highlight the essential efforts of frontline LGBTQ+ groups during global challenges.
More information is available at EltonJohnImpactAwards.com, with planning contributions from leaders including Furnish, Porter, Carlile, and organizational executives.
Summary based on 17 sources
Get a daily email with more Entertainment stories
Sources

Variety • May 18, 2026
Elton John Impact Awards Announced Recognizing LGBTQ Trailblazers
iHeart • May 18, 2026
Inaugural Elton John Impact Awards To Honor 6 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers
