Tony-winning performer will be recognized in the Live Performance category on September 4, followed by the inaugural MIFF Icon Award at the Manila International Film Festival
Lea Salonga, the internationally celebrated singer and stage actress whose career has bridged Broadway, film, television and concert stages around the world, will receive the 2,855th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, September 4, 2026.
The honor marks a historic first: Salonga will become the first Filipina to receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. PT on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Pantages Theatre. Emmy Award-winning sports and entertainment journalist Sibley Scoles will emcee, with actress and fellow Walk of Fame honoree Ming-Na Wen set to appear as guest speaker. Wen and Salonga share a lasting connection through Disney’s Mulan.
Salonga’s star will be awarded in the category of Live Performance, recognizing a career that has made her one of the most influential and acclaimed artists to emerge from the Philippines.
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Lea Salonga to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk of Fame. “Lea Salonga is a true trailblazer whose extraordinary talent and decades-long career have inspired audiences around the world. We are thrilled to honor her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and especially proud that she will be the first Filipina to receive this iconic recognition.”
Martinez added that the recognition represents “a milestone, not only for Lea, but for the Filipino community and for generations of artists who will follow in her footsteps.”
Salonga rose to international prominence with her Tony Award-winning performance as Kim in Miss Saigon, a role that established her as a defining voice in musical theater. Her accolades also include an Olivier Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Theatre World Award.
Her Broadway credits include Les Misérables, Once on This Island, Here Lies Love, Allegiance and Flower Drum Song. She made history as the first Asian actress to play Éponine in Les Misérables on Broadway, later returning to the musical as Fantine in its 2006 revival. In January 2026, she took on the role of Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables: The World Tour Spectacular.
Beyond the stage, Salonga became beloved by generations of audiences as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II. The Walt Disney Company later named her a Disney Legend in recognition of her contributions to the studio’s legacy.
Her screen and voice work also includes Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Yellow Rose, Netflix’s Centaurworld, FX’s Little Demon and the record-breaking Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. She is also set to appear as the lead villain in DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming fantasy feature Forgotten Island, which premieres September 26.
The Walk of Fame ceremony arrives during a major Los Angeles weekend for the performer. Following the dedication, Salonga will receive the inaugural MIFF Icon Award at the third annual Manila International Film Festival’s Closing Night Awards Gala on Sunday, September 6, at The Beverly Hilton.
The festival, which nominated Salonga to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Committee, will also present special screenings connected to her career, including Forgotten Island, Sana Maulit Muli and The Vale – Origins, at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
Over a 45-year career, Salonga has performed at premier venues including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the O2 Arena, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Singapore’s Esplanade. Her recent Stage, Screen & Everything In Between Tour continued her global concert legacy, while her latest recording, Sounding Joy – The Holiday Album, was released in 2024.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame on behalf of the City of Los Angeles. The landmark, which has drawn visitors from around the world since 1960, honors achievements in motion pictures, television, recording, radio, live theater and live performance.
The September 4 ceremony is free and open to the public. Fans unable to attend in person can watch the event live exclusively at WalkOfFame.com. Tickets for the third annual Manila International Film Festival are available through the festival’s Eventbrite page.
