Analysis
Seven in ten honours went to community recognition
Of 1,182 recipients, 807 — about 68% — were MBEs and British Empire Medals: the community-level awards that recognise the volunteers, carers and coaches at the heart of local life.
Celebrating exceptional achievements and distinguished service across the United Kingdom and overseas territories.
In focus
Analysis
Of 1,182 recipients, 807 — about 68% — were MBEs and British Empire Medals: the community-level awards that recognise the volunteers, carers and coaches at the heart of local life.

Public life
Two new Companions of Honour — Dame Helen Mirren and war photographer Sir Don McCullin — plus damehoods for Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson and Malorie Blackman, and a knighthood for rugby's Kevin Sinfield.

Themes
Taken together, the citations name education as the cause Britain honoured most this year, ahead of health and community service. Science is strongly represented at the top end — cosmologist Sir Carlos Frenk, dementia researcher Dame Carol Brayne and engineer Dame Hayaatun Sillem.
Community
The British Empire Medal is the most local honour there is, and 306 were awarded this year — to Dean Allen in Telford, Alison Brittle in Saddleworth, Campbell Best in Portadown, and hundreds more like them. For most, that short citation is the only public record of a lifetime of quiet service.
Community
A quiet cluster of fifteen foster carers were recognised this year — and Birmingham Children's Trust appears three times across the foster-care awards.
In this list
The names you know in this list.
Portraits via Wikimedia Commons.
Analysis
The headline
1,118
Total awards
44
Knights & Dames
101
CBE
277
OBE
By rank
Top counties (where recorded)
From the citations
Education led the round with 115 recipients (10.3% of those whose citation is tagged).
Named recipients with a public profile
Most-honoured town: London (170).
Year on year
Versus the Birthday Honours List 2025
Sources
Counts derived by Honoria from public records (The Gazette). Sector tags are Honoria's; percentages are of recipients whose citation is tagged.
The recipients
1,118 recipients
The themes most cited across the Birthday Honours List 2026.
The themes most often cited in the Birthday Honours List 2026.