The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors has announced Amy Poehler, Sterlin Harjo and PBS KIDS as its honorees for the 2026 Peabody Awards.
Poehler, an Emmy award-winning actress and host of the Golden Globe award-winning podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler, will be honored with the Peabody Career Achievement Award, presented to “an individual whose exceptional body of work and creative contributions have made a significant impact on media and culture.” The former SNL and Parks and Recreation star, comedian and producer, who in 2022 earned a Peabody award nomination for the documentary Lucy and Desi, joins Andrea Mitchell, Mel Brooks, and Sam Pollard, who previously received the Career Achievement Award.
Director, producer and screenwriter Sterlin Harjo, who in 2021 received a Peabody Award for Reservation Dogs, of which he was co-creator and showrunner, will be honored with the Peabody Trailblazer Award. The honor, previously presented to Issa Rae, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Quinta Brunson, “recognizes visionaries whose innovative storytelling styles impact culture and effect social change.” Harjo, a MacArthur Genius Award winner, is creator, writer, director and executive producer of FX’s current series, The Lowdown.
PBS KIDS will be honored with the Peabody Institutional Award, which is given to “institutions and organizations, as well as series and programs, for their enduring body of work and their lasting impact on the media landscape and the public imagination.” The children’s educational brand, established as a dedicated programming block in 1999, will be celebrated for its series for children ages two to eight, which includes current shows such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Carl the Collector, Wild Kratts and Alma’s Way, as well as pioneering work from early creators such as Fred Rogers and Jim Henson
“These honorees represent the very best of storytelling in media and the profound impact it can have on culture,” Jeffrey Jones, Executive Director of the Peabody Awards, said in a news release. “Amy Poehler has built a remarkable career bringing intelligence, humor, and fearless creativity to work that continues to shape comedy and inspire audiences. Sterlin Harjo has expanded the possibilities of television with work that is both deeply personal and culturally groundbreaking, with overdue stories and voices Americans have long ignored. And for decades, PBS KIDS has set the gold standard for educational children’s media, creating thoughtful, enriching stories that continue to shape how young audiences learn, grow, and understand the world. We’re proud to recognize each of them for their lasting impact on the media landscape.”
Poehler, Harjo, and PBS KIDS will be celebrated at the 86th annual Peabody Awards ceremony on May 31 in Beverly Hills.
