Announcing UAL's 2026 honoraries
- Written byStudent Communications
- Published date 09 March 2026
4 remarkable creatives will receive honorary degrees from University of the Arts London (UAL) at this year’s postgraduate graduation ceremonies, taking place at the iconic Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank from 17 March.
This year’s honoraries are influential artists and public figures – pushing boundaries at the forefront of the creative industries. Their achievements span a wide range of disciplines, including music, literature, fine art, film, fashion, business, curation and journalism.
Meet this year’s honoraries:
Afua Hirsch
Afua’s decade-spanning career has focused on vital explorations of race, identity and social justice. She is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, Times bestseller author, journalist, podcast host and filmmaker, including the Guardian and BBC.
The Honourable Daphne Guinness
Daphne’s work spans music, fashion, philanthropy, film and curation. She is both muse and designer, collaborating with multiple and varied brands. She is an Oscar-nominated co-producer, with 4 critically acclaimed music albums under her belt.
Dee Poon Chu Ying
Dee founded the Tessellation Group, a pioneer in innovative and sustainable fashion. Her leadership in launching a waterless dye collection earned a UN Retail4Impact recognition. Engaged in art and culture, she is involved with leading cultural institutions globally including Tate, MoMA, and Asia Art Archive.
Karimah Ashadu
Karimah is a critically acclaimed fine artist and film director. Her art has been exhibited internationally, including at the Camden Arts Centre, Museum of Modern Art in New York and 60th Venice Biennale. She founded her film production company, Golddust by Ashadu.