Santa Barbara Film Fest: Sydney Sweeney & 7 Others Honored with Barbara’s Virtuosos Award

Santa Barbara’s Virtuosos Awards: For 2026, SBIFF has named its anticipated Virtuosos Award honorees, which recognizes emerging talent who have made significant contributions to the industry in 2025. Among the honorees is Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi, Euphoria co-stars and audience favorites.

What is the Santa Barbara Film Fest Virtuosos Award? 

The Virtuosos Award honors remarkable actors for having delivered noteworthy performances within the past year. It spotlights and honors those who are mid-career and has played several notable and varied roles. SBIFF’s Virtuosos Award is peer-acknowledged for having honored actors like Zendaya and Riz Ahmed for having the potential to become future stars.  

The 2026 Virtuosos Award Honorees  

The 2026 honorees span multiple and varied film and television projects across different regions of the world:  

• Sydney Sweeney — For portraying Christy  
• Jacob Elordi — Noted for his incarnation in Frankenstein  
• Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor — Jointly awarded for One Battle After Another  
• Jeremy Allen White — for his leading role as Bruce Springsteen in Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and widely recognized for his work in The Bear 
• Amy Madigan — recognized for her role in Weapons  
• Wagner Moura — awarded for The Secret Agent  
• Renate Reinsve — recognized for Sentimental Value

This year’s honorees represent an impressive combination of global and breakout American talent, including new and seasoned actors and actresses, and stars from hit television series and important films.  

ALSO READ: Sydney Sweeney Pics at Variety 2025 Power of Women Event Takes Internet on Fire

Santa Barbara Film Festival Award Ceremony Details

February 8, 2026, marks the Santa Barbara festival’s 16th year for TCM’s Dave Karger’s traditional hosting of the event, and he will continue this role at the historic Arlington Theater, the venue for this year’s awards ceremony. Attendees will enjoy a moderated discussion with the moderator’s traditional surprise guest awards presenter. 

The awards ceremony commences this year from February 4th through the 14th, with a promise of  the festival is expected to feature over 60 countries. Each candidate will be awarded for an expected surprise appreciated for. Karger’s role as event moderator will continue this season at Arlington Theater. The awards ceremony expected to feature over 60 countries.