Max Richter has been named in the 2026 New Years Honours list.
The acclaimed German-British composer has been awarded a CBE, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British culture, advocacy and the wider community.
He said of the honour on his Instagram: “I am deeply grateful to have been recognised today. This recognition, and receiving a CBE, is something I am profoundly thankful for.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have spent most of the last few decades’ writing, performing, recording and thinking about music. I have written concert works, records, dozens of film and TV scores, ballets, and opera. For me, the opportunity to spend my life doing what I dreamed of doing when I was a child continues to be an immense privilege, and one I never take for granted.”
He went on to say that to “be recognised for my part in the wonderful world of human music truly is something I am deeply grateful for”.
Richter recently composed the score for the much-anticipated new film Hamnet from director Chloé Zhao, which recently earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. The movie follows the relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes after the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet. It is released in the UK on January 9, 2026.
He has scored or provided music for more than 50 film projects over his career.
Richter also released his brand-new album, ‘Sleep Circle’, in September via Deutsche Grammophon. The record was described as “a hallucinatory 90-minute trip into the hypnagogic state – the time period when the brain transitions between a state of wakefulness and sleep and the state during which the individual dreams”.
He recently announced a European tour in 2026 which will culminate in a show at London’s Royal Festival Hall on March 27. Tickets are available here.
Meanwhile, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo and Ellie Goulding are among the other entertainment figures included in the 2026 New Year Honours list.
Last year’s list included Steve Lamacq, Stephen Fry, Eddie Marsan and Carey Mulligan.
