The U.K.’s New Year Honors List has recognized prominent figures from the entertainment and music industries, with a total of 1,157 recipients from various sectors across British society being acknowledged this year. This annual list, bestowed by the King, celebrates individuals with knighthoods, damehoods, as well as CBEs (Commander), OBEs (Officer), and MBEs (Member), with the CBE being the highest honor preceding a knighthood or damehood.

Among the most distinguished honorees is actor and musician Idris Elba, who has been awarded a knighthood and will now bear the title of Sir Idris Elba. This recognition is primarily for his extensive charity work with young people, which includes launching an anti-knife crime campaign and co-founding the Elba Hope Foundation alongside his wife, Sabrina. The foundation provides crucial grants to organizations across the UK, the US, and Africa. Elba's early life saw him as a beneficiary of the Prince’s Trust, which provided him a £1,500 grant to attend the National Youth Music Theatre program. He later achieved fame for his roles in hit television series like The Wire and Luther, and is also known for his music career, performing as DJ Big Driis at international festivals.

Other significant music figures to be honored include Cynthia Erivo, the star of Wicked, and singer Ellie Goulding, both of whom have received MBEs. Erivo is celebrated for her contributions to drama and the arts, while Goulding's efforts in biodiversity and climate advocacy, including her role as a UN global environmental ambassador, were recognized. Composer Max Richter was awarded a CBE, shortly before the physical release of his original score for the critically acclaimed film Hamnet.

The list also acknowledged Scottish singer Eve Graham, a founding member of The New Seekers, who received an MBE for her services to the music industry, notably for the global hit