The 2026 Unforgettable Awards, honoring Asian and Pacific Islander achievement in entertainment and culture, took place on Saturday at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. This annual event, hosted by Character Media and GoldenTV, featured notable honorees such as filmmaker Chloé Zhao, actor Bowen Yang, and voice actors Arden Cho and Ji-young Yoo from KPop Demon Hunters.
Highlights from the Award Ceremony
GoldenTV CEO Takashi Cheng opened the evening before the awards were presented. Charles Melton, star of Beef season two, introduced Chloé Zhao as he presented her with the Global Icon Award. Melton spoke warmly about Zhao’s importance, recalling their conversation about Shakespearean prose and emphasizing her vital role as a storyteller.
We need her films. We need her voice. We need her way,
he declared to the audience.
Zhao responded with gratitude, hugging Melton on stage and calling him,
You are an incredible human being and artist,
before expressing pride in her Chinese heritage. She reflected on the privilege of storytelling and creativity, stating,
It is the birthright of every human being to use their creativity to alchemize their life experiences, no matter how difficult they are,
and further added,
I want to thank everyone of you who exercised that birthright to experience the luminous and to connect with your own inner divinity, and thank you for helping others remember that too.
Actors Recognized for Their Contributions to Film and Television
Bowen Yang received the Actor in Film Award for his role in The Wedding Banquet, presented by comedian Atsuko Okatsuka. Yang began his acceptance speech with humor, joking,
Wow, I cannot believe that I beat out Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid for this,
which earned laughter from the crowd. He described the oddities of acting, saying,
Look, acting is so weird because you basically stand on a piece of tape, you say some stuff, maybe you’re wearing a toupee like I did in Wicked, and you’re supposed to cry on cue after someone’s offered an Altoid [mint],
and added,
Then six months later, a flight attendant will bring it up and call you brave while you’re stepping into the lavatory.
Yang also spoke about the challenges faced by Asian and Pacific Islander performers, noting how visibility has evolved.
Step into rooms and you were very aware of yourself immediately. You were noticed but maybe not in the way you would want to be. Be seen but maybe too seen, too flattened, too misunderstood,
he reflected, continuing,
That makes you move through life in the third person too,
and expressing optimism:
I’m so, so happy and lucky that it’s starting to change now because of rooms like this.
KPop Demon Hunters and Vanguard Award Celebration
The Vanguard Award was given to KPop Demon Hunters, accepted by voice actors Arden Cho and Ji-young Yoo. They highlighted the film as a heartfelt tribute to Korean culture and music, while also emphasizing its broader celebration of cultural community.
Additional Honorees and Presentations
While actor Daniel Dae Kim and director Park Chan-wook both sent video messages of thanks, unable to attend in person, several other awards were distributed throughout the evening. Lawrence Shou earned the Breakout in Film Award, and Te Ao o Hinepehinga received the Breakout in Television Award. Lloyd Lee Choi was honored with the Writer Award, Leenda Dong with the Digital Influencer Award, and Jet Tila with the Culinary Excellence Award.
Entertainment Performances and Notable Participants
The ceremony featured a variety of performances, including appearances by Traitors star Eric Nam, magician and mentalist Kevin Li, singer Peng Peng, and singer-songwriter Sinéad Harnett. The 2026 Selection Committee was co-chaired by Simu Liu and Takashi Cheng, involving a wide range of prominent figures such as Agnes Lew, Awkwafina, Benedict Wong, Jessica Henwick, Ken Jeong, Miranda Kwok, Randall Park, and Shannon Lee, among others.
Looking Ahead: The Unforgettable Gala Streaming Event
The 2026 Unforgettable Gala is scheduled to air as a special on GoldenTV on March 13, offering audiences worldwide the chance to experience this celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander excellence in film, television, and culture.
