Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Despite record heat, Oxford awarded honorary degrees to figures including Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, tennis star Billy Jean King, and Bridgerton Actress Adjoa Andoh.

All recipients:
Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern GNZM,
Professor Daron Acemoğlu,
Carlos Acosta CBE,
Adjoa Andoh MBE,
Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr,
Professor Katalin Karikó,
Billie Jean King,
Professor Shuji Nakamura FREng
Dame Emma Walmsley DBE.

Find out more about the honorary degree recipients for 2026 here: ox.ac.uk/news/2026-04-21-honorary-degree-recipients-for-2026-announced

For background information on the Encaenia ceremony take a look here: ox.ac.uk/events/encaenia