Kate Hudson to Receive SBIFF’s Arlington Artist of the Year Award

Kate Hudson will be honored with the prestigious Arlington Artist of the Year Award at the 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Hudson will receive the award during an in-person tribute and career retrospective on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The evening will spotlight her performance in Craig Brewer’s critically-acclaimed musical drama, SONG SUNG BLUE, from Focus Features, for which she has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a SAG Actor Award. The evening will additionally celebrate her diverse film career of more than two decades.

In SONG SUNG BLUE, Hudson stars alongside Hugh Jackman as a down-on-their-luck couple who find love and salvation performing as a Neil Diamond tribute band. Hudson delivers one of the most nuanced performances of her career, anchoring the film with a deeply felt portrayal that explores love, resilience, and reinvention.

“We fell in love with her in Almost Famous more than 25 years ago and have loved her ever since. We were ecstatic to see Ms. Hudson in a role worthy of her talents in SONG SUNG BLUE. It’s a career redefining performance, and she knocks it out of the park!” said SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling.
 
The Arlington Artist of the Year Award was created in honor of one of the most historic and iconic buildings in Santa Barbara, The Arlington Theatre. Timothée Chalamet received the inaugural award in 2025.