Lea Salonga to receive MIFF Icon Award at 2026 Manila International Film Festival

MANILA, Philippines — Tony and Olivier Award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga will receive the Icon Award at the third Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), organizers announced Friday. Lea Salonga will be honored with the inaugural MIFF Icon Award at the Manila International Film Festival’s Closing Night Gala on September 6 at The Beverly Hilton. The tribute will take place during the festival's Closing Night Gala on Sept. 6 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. The recognition comes as Salonga prepares for another milestone this year after being nominated by the MIFF for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is set to be inducted in the Live Theater category, becoming the first Filipina to receive the honor. "Lea Salonga is a legend whose extraordinary career has broken barriers and inspires generations of Filipino and Asian artists globally," MIFF Executive Producer Lisa Lew said in a statement. "From sweeping major theater awards to voicing classic Disney heroines and starring on screens across both the U.S. and the Philippines, she is the ultimate 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," she added. Best known for originating the role of Kim in "Miss Saigon," Salonga won the Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards for her performance. She has also appeared in Philippine and international films, including "Sana Maulit Muli," "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal," "Pik Pak Boom," "Yellow Rose" and "The Vale." A Disney Legend, Salonga is recognized worldwide as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin" and Fa Mulan in "Mulan" and "Mulan II." Most recently, she provided the singing voice of Celine in "KPop Demon Hunters." She is also set to appear in DreamWorks Animation's upcoming film "Forgotten Island," directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, which opens in theaters on Sept. 25. The MIFF will return to the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood from Sept. 3 to 6, marking its third edition. Organizers said the official film lineup, festival programming, additional honorees and gala details will be announced in the coming months. MIFF producer Winston Emano said the festival was established to give Philippine cinema greater visibility in Hollywood. "MIFF was founded three years ago with a simple but firm belief that Philippine cinema deserves a stage in Hollywood. Filipino filmmakers and artists have stories the world needs to see, and MIFF exists to help assure Hollywood is the room where that happens," Emano said. "As we return to the TCL Chinese Theatre and The Beverly Hilton, we look forward to welcoming filmmakers, artists, industry leaders and expanding audiences and awareness for Philippine cinema." Since its launch in 2024, the festival has screened more than 20 films and honored artists including Boots Anson Roa, Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, Tia Carrere and Vilma Santos through its awards competition and annual Closing Night Gala.