The 2026 New Year Honours List has been published, recognising more than 1,100 people across the UK for their contributions to society. The awards celebrate individuals ranging from dedicated community champions to role models in sport, healthcare, academia and voluntary service.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the list honours “the very best of Britain”, praising those who put the common good ahead of personal gain to strengthen communities and transform lives. He added that their quiet dedication reflects a compassionate nation, offering thanks and congratulations on behalf of the country.
Of the 1,157 honours awarded this year, around five per cent went to people of Asian heritage. The government confirmed that overall ethnic minority representation on the 2026 honours list has doubled to 14 per cent.
Taking the ultimate lead with damehoods and a knighthood
South Asian excellence features prominently at the very top of the King’s New Year Honours List 2026, with two damehoods and a knighthood marking a significant moment for representation across the arts, academia, science and public service.
Among the highest accolades is a damehood for actor and writer Meera Syal, who becomes the first Asian woman to be honoured at this level for services to arts and culture. Born in Wolverhampton to Punjabi parents, Syal rose to prominence in the 1990s as a co-writer and performer on the BBC’s ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, a groundbreaking comedy that brought British Asian life to the mainstream and challenged entrenched stereotypes. The show became a cultural landmark, opening doors for greater diversity on British television. Her career has since spanned film, television and theatre, with roles in ‘The Kumars at No. 42’, ‘Broadchurch’, ‘Mrs Sidhu Investigates’, ‘Bhaji on the Beach’, ‘Anita and Me’, ‘Paddington and Yesterday.’
A second damehood has been awarded to Professor Meena Upadhyaya, professor emerita in medical genetics, whose four-decade career has combined academic leadership, international research collaboration and a strong commitment to equality. She has authored more than 200 scientific papers, mentored generations of researchers and held honorary professorships in both the UK and India.
Completing the trio of top honours, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, vice-chancellor of the University of Leicester, has been knighted for services to higher education. His journey from scholarship student at the University of Cambridge to senior academic leadership has been widely cited as a powerful example of social mobility and educational excellence.
Community members recognised for their service
South Asians were also recognised across a broad spectrum of public life, business, health, sport, culture and community leadership. Paavan Popat, chief executive of TLC Care, received an OBE for services to intergenerational housing and care, while Dr Ritan Mehta was awarded an MBE for her role in the medical success of the England women’s football team, including their historic UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 victory.
Cricket commentator and inclusivity advocate Isa Tara Guha also received an MBE for services to inclusivity and cricket. Playwright Ishtiaq Din was honoured with an MBE for services to the arts and young people in the North East, marking a remarkable journey from taxi driver to nationally acclaimed writer.
Paavan Popat
Paavan Popat, CEO of TLC Group and one of the UK’s most prominent British Hindu business leaders, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his leadership around intergenerational housing, inclusive healthy placemaking and care for older people.
About the honour, Paavan said, “I feel truly humbled to receive this honour and grateful for the values that have guided me throughout my life. My parents and my guru, Morari Bapu, have taught me the importance of humility, compassion and service to others. Those teachings have shaped not only my work, but how I try to conduct myself every day. I will continue working for the Indian community in a way that brings generations together with understanding and respect.”
Paavan is recognised for pioneering faith- and culture-sensitive housing and care, including founding the UK’s first purpose-built Asian vegetarian care home, Karuna Manor. A member of the government’s Older People’s Housing Taskforce, he has helped shape national policy on ageing. Guided by family values and spiritual teachings, Paavan continues to champion inclusive, intergenerational communities, with his proposed Heathbourne Green development seen as a model for future age-friendly living.
Dhruv Patel
Dhruv Patel has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his leadership and impact across Greater London.
The CBE is awarded for services to charity and marks an elevation from the OBE he received in the 2018 Birthday Honours, which recognised his voluntary service to the British Hindu community and his contribution to social cohesion.
Dhruv Patel CBE said, “I am deeply humbled by this honour and accept it with a profound sense of duty to King and Country.
This recognition is not mine alone. I accept it only on behalf of everyone who has been touched by the great institutions, communities, and causes that I have had the privilege to serve and contribute to over many years.”
Sikh community figures recognised
Sikhs and people of Sikh heritage from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, spanning academia, financial services, fashion, and the arts, feature prominently in the 2026 New Year Honours List.
Among those recognised is Dr Harjinder Singh Lallie, founder of the Gurmat Sangeet Academy, who receives an OBE for services to Musical Heritage, Faith Communities and Integration. Over three decades, Dr Lallie has played a pivotal role in preserving and advancing Sikh sacred music through teaching, community leadership, and curriculum development. His work culminated in the creation of the world’s first globally recognised Sikh Sacred Music examinations through the Music Teachers’ Board in the UK, offering structured progression, UCAS points at higher grades, and parity with Western classical music education, while safeguarding traditional instruments and heritage.
Reflecting on the honour, Dr Lallie said he had never viewed his academic and community work as separate, adding that teaching in all settings is about enriching lives, creating opportunity, and helping people grow.
Neeta Atkar, a leading figure in British financial services, is awarded a CBE. With more than 30 years’ experience in risk, regulation and governance, she has held senior roles at the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority, Lloyds Banking Group and TSB Bank, where she served as Chief Risk Officer. She currently holds several high-profile board roles, bringing extensive expertise in risk management and strategic leadership.
Leeds-based choreographer and artistic director Balbir Singh, founder of the Balbir Singh Dance Company, receives an MBE. Trained in Kathak and contemporary dance, his work blends movement, music and storytelling, often crossing disciplines and engaging communities in the UK and internationally. He described the honour as “humbling and deeply meaningful”, expressing hope that it would inspire younger Sikhs to find purpose and confidence through creativity.
Fashion entrepreneur Mani Kohli, founder of the Khubsoorat Collection, is also awarded an MBE, becoming the first South Asian female fashion designer to receive the honour. Since establishing Khubsoorat in 1985, she has helped bring South Asian fashion into the British mainstream while supporting women artisans and heritage crafts in India. She said the recognition reflected Sikh values instilled by her parents and her commitment to benefiting those she works with.
Professor Avtar Singh Matharu, Professor of Chemistry at the University of York, receives an MBE for his work on equality and community cohesion. Through his leadership of the York Interfaith Group and the University’s Staff Race Equality Forum, he has worked closely with local authorities and police to address hate crime and drive institutional change.
Another OBE recipient is Professor Gurpreet Singh Jagpal, Chief Commercial Officer at Aston University. A senior academic leader in enterprise and entrepreneurship, he has played a key role in driving innovation, business engagement and partnerships across the higher education sector. He said he hoped the honour would encourage people from all backgrounds to pursue their ambitions with confidence.
