Lea Salonga to be honored with Icon Award at MIFF 2026 in California

Broadway star Lea Salonga is set to receive another major honor as the 2026 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) presents her with the Icon Award during its Closing Night Gala on September 6 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.

The recognition celebrates the world-renowned actress and singer’s lasting impact on theater, film, music, and entertainment, as well as her role in bringing Filipino talent to the global stage.

Salonga, who was also nominated by MIFF for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is set to be inducted later this year in the Live Theater category. The 55-year-old will make history as the first Filipina to receive the prestigious honor.

MIFF Executive Producer Lisa Lew described Salonga as a "legend" whose career has inspired generations of Filipino and Asian artists around the world. She also highlighted the performer’s achievements on stage and screen—from winning some of theater’s highest honors to voicing beloved Disney heroines—which she said have made Salonga a global ambassador for Filipino excellence.

"The Manila International Film Festival is proud to champion Lea's achievements through our Hollywood Walk of Fame nomination, and we look forward to celebrating her legacy with our Icon Award at the Closing Night Gala," Lew added.

Salonga is a globally renowned, award-winning performer whose breakthrough role as Kim in “Miss Saigon” earned her Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards for Best Actress. She is also widely celebrated for her work in Philippine and US films.

A  Disney Legend awardee, Salonga won the hearts of audiences around the world as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in  1992’s “Aladdin” and Fa Mulan in “Mulan” (1998) and “Mulan II” (2004). More recently, she provided the singing voice of Celine in “KPop Demon Hunters.” She will be in DreamWorks Animation’s highly anticipated American film inspired by Filipino culture and mythology, “Forgotten Island.”

Based in Los Angeles, the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) serves as a platform for bringing Philippine cinema to global audiences. 

Now in its third year, the festival has showcased more than 20 films and brought Filipino filmmakers, artists, and industry leaders to Hollywood through film screenings, an awards competition, and its annual Closing Night Gala.

The MIFF has helped expand the reach of Filipino storytelling while recognizing notable Filipino artists such as Boots Anson Roa, Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, and Vilma Santos.