Audra McDonald and Joy Reid are among the 2026 New York Women in Film & Television Muse Award honorees. Dedicated to celebrating women in film, television, music, and media, the awards ceremony will be held on March 20 at Cipriani 42nd St. in New York City.
A Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award–winning actress and singer, McDonald will be honored for her achievements throughout her versatile career. Reid, a longtime political commentator and television host, will receive the Enid Roth Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Award-winning producer Jane Raab, actress Jamie Brewer and director Patricia Cardoso will also be honored, the latter two receiving the Loreen Arbus Changemaker Award and the Nancy Malone Directing Award, respectively. Additionally, Izzy Harrison, WNBA forward for the New York Liberty, will receive the inaugural NYWIFT Muse Award for Achievement in Sports & Media.
“CBS Sunday Morning” contributor, comedian and actress Nancy Giles will serve as the event’s emcee. As part of a broadcast partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, viewers can watch the ceremony on NYC Life, both on TV and online.
“Each year, the Muse Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate women whose work not only entertains and inspires, but also shapes culture and expands what’s possible in our industry,” said New York Women in Film & Television CEO Cynthia López,. “Our 2026 honorees represent extraordinar excellence across performance, production, sports, and leadership, and we are honored to recognize their remarkable contributions to film, television, and the creative community.”
Kim Jackson, president of the NYWIFT Board of Directors, added, “Thrilled to return to Cipriani 42nd for our annual Muse Awards honoring and elevating women who are driving meaningful and necessary change in arts and entertainment. As we enter our 46th year, NYWIFT is proud to continue the legacy, and is introducing a new sports category, reflecting our ongoing commitment to visibility, opportunity, and equity for women working across every corner of the media landscape.”
Founded in 1977, NYWIFT aims to connect, educate, and advocate for women to accelerate diversity and equity in media. The Muse Awards gala luncheon serves as NYWIFT’s flagship fundraising event, attended by executives from major studios, broadcast and cable networks and film production facilities.
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