Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and British painter David Hockney are among the personalities honored in the January 1, 2026, civil Legion of Honour promotion. The decree, published in the Official Journal, recognizes 616 individuals for their commitment to the public good. Other recipients include singer Nolwenn Leroy and several film actors.
The January 1, 2026, civil Legion of Honour promotion, France's highest national distinction established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, highlights figures committed across various fields. According to a statement from the grand chancellery, these 616 recipients embody meritocracy and exemplarity. The grade distribution includes 528 knights, 70 officers, 14 commanders, three grand officers, and one grand cross.
Boualem Sansal, 81, receives this honor for the first time. The Franco-Algerian author was imprisoned for nearly a year in Algeria due to his stances on his native country, before being pardoned on November 12 by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. David Hockney, 88, a British pop art pioneer, is recognized as a foreign resident in France. He settled in Normandy in 2019 and returned to London in 2023.
Other notable names include Franco-Iranian writer Delphine Minoui, singer Nolwenn Leroy, comedian Chantal Ladesou, and actors Guillaume Canet, Jean-Paul Rouve, and Guillaume Gallienne, all promoted to knights. Ten years after the November 13, 2015, attacks, the presidents of Life for Paris (Arthur Dénouveaux) and 13onze15 (Philippe Duperron) are decorated for the first time.
The grand cross goes to Jean-Marc Sauvé, honorary vice-president of the Council of State and former head of the commission on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, whose 2021 report had a significant impact. Shoah survivor and memory bearer Ginette Kolinka is elevated to commander. Officer promotions include chef Anne-Sophie Pic and mathematician Michel Talagrand, winner of the 2024 Abel Prize. Six individuals are honored through the citizen initiative, allowing direct nominations outside traditional ministerial channels.
Another civil promotion is scheduled for July, as in 2025 which recognized Gisèle Pelicot. Two annual military promotions complete the calendar, for a total of 77,000 members in the order.
