Lea Salonga to Seal her Star In Hollywood Walk of Fame on Sept. 4

LOS ANGELES, California — The Philippine entertainment industry is set to achieve a historic milestone next month as renowned stage and screen icon Lea Salonga will officially receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 4, 2026.

This will make Salonga the first-ever Filipina to receive the prestigious coveted star since the landmark was inaugurated in 1960.

Nominated by the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), Salonga enters the Class of 2026 under the Live Theatre/Live Performance category.

Salonga, a Tony Award-winning broadway legend, will also receive the inaugural MIFF Icon Award at the festival's closing night gala September 6 at The Beverly Hilton. The MIFF will run from September 3 to 6, 2026.

The actual date of Salonga's leaving her mark at the Hollywood Walk of Fame was revealed by Winston Emano, MIFF producer, during the Philippine Global Media Group (PGMG) Induction of Officers and Gala Night last August 8, 2026 at Sheraton Cerritos.

"Save the date and be there to represent," Emano said, addressing the US-based journalists and guests during the PGMG event.

The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, in a press statement, said they "proudly celebrate a new milestone for Ms. Lea Salonga, who is set to make history as the first Filipino to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Live Theatre/Live Performance."

MIFF executive producer Lisa Lew, on the other hand, earlier said “Lea Salonga is a legend whose extraordinary career has broken barriers and inspires generations of Filipino and Asian artists globally.”

Lew said, “From sweeping major theatre awards to voicing classic Disney heroines and starring on screens across both the U.S. and the Philippines, she is the ultimate ambassador for Filipino excellence. The Manila International Film Festival is proud to champion Lea’s achievements through our Hollywood Walk of Fame nomination, and we look forward to celebrating her legacy with our Icon Award at the closing night gala.”

The ceremony will not only cement Salonga's legacy on the global stage but will also provide a lasting Filipino representation in international entertainment world.

This honor will likewise solidify her status as a cultural ambassador and a lifelong trailblazer for Asian artists worldwide.

The 55-year old Salonga famously burst onto the international scene as the original Kim in Miss Saigon, a role that swept the Olivier and Tony Awards.

She later made history as the first Asian actress to play Eponine and Fantine in Les Misérables on Broadway, and she remains a beloved global icon as the singing voice behind Disney royalty Princess Jasmine (Aladdin) and Mulan.

The Disney icon has also released 14 albums and toured all over the globe, performing sold-out concerts in landmark venues. Her talents extend to the screen, where she can be seen on MAX’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and Sony’s Yellow Rose, and can be heard on Netflix’s Centaurworld and FX’s Little Demon.

Recently, Salonga again provided vocals as the singing voice of Celine in KPOP Demon Hunters. She will return again to animation in DreamWork's Forgotten Island, coming to theaters September 25.