You’re walking down Hollywood Boulevard, coffee in hand, half-watching your feet so you don’t trip on a curb, when you spot it. A Hollywood Walk of Fame star with a name you actually recognize. Then a barricade goes up a block ahead, a small crowd gathers, and someone tells you a ceremony is happening in twenty minutes.
That’s the thing about the Walk of Fame in 2026. Either you can plan your whole trip around it or just stumble into a piece of Hollywood history by accident. Want to explore beyond Universal Studios? Discover the top attractions, hidden gems, and unforgettable experiences across Hollywood, California.
This guide covers what’s happening on the Walk of Fame this year:
- Who’s getting a star?
- When do ceremonies happen?
- How can you watch one in person for free?
- How does the whole selection process actually work?
By the end, you’ll know exactly how to plan a visit around it.
Where Is the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
The Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame runs along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard, plus three blocks of Vine Street, in the heart of Hollywood, California. Most first-time visitors start near Hollywood and Highland, where the crowds and the souvenir shops are thickest, then wander east or west from there.
It’s one of the most photographed sidewalks on earth, and it’s been growing, one star at a time, since 1958.
If you want to find a specific name before you go, the official walk of fame map on walkofame.com lets you search by star and shows exactly where to stand.
What Do the Stars Represent?
Each star sits in one of five categories:
- Motion Pictures,
- Television,
- Recording,
- Live Theatre/Live Performance, and
- Sports Entertainment (Radio used to be its own category and still shows up occasionally).
The category symbol: a film camera, TV set, record, comedy/tragedy masks, or a microphone, is stamped right into the star, so you can tell at a glance what someone was honored for. Want to learn more about the iconic location behind the name? Discover where this place called Hollywood is and explore the history, culture, and famous landmarks that make it world-renowned.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremonies — 2026 by Month
January 2026
- Alan Cumming — Live Performance — Jan 8
- Rachel McAdams — Motion Pictures — Jan 20
- The Isley Brothers — Recording — Jan 28
February 2026
- Franco Nero — Motion Pictures — Feb 12
- Michelle Yeoh — Motion Pictures — Feb 18
- Bill Duke — Motion Pictures — Feb 26
March 2026
- Gabriel Iglesias — Live Performance — Mar 3
- Brandy (Brandy Norwood) — Recording — Mar 30
April 2026
- Noah Wyle — Television — Apr 9
- Emily Blunt — Motion Pictures — Apr 30
- Stanley Tucci — Motion Pictures — Apr 30
May 2026
- Josh Groban — Recording — May 6
- Paulinho Da Costa — Recording — May 13
- Miley Cyrus — Recording — May 22
- Adam Carolla — Radio — May 27
June 2026
- Keith David — Motion Pictures — Jun 4
- Christopher Meledandri — Motion Pictures — Jun 7
- David Beckham — Sports Entertainment — Jun 12
- Molly Shannon — Television — Jun 22
July 2026
- Bone Thugs‑N‑Harmony — Recording — Jul 8
- Intocable — Recording — Jul 16
August 2026
- Orel Hershiser — Sports Entertainment — Aug 13
- Angélique Kidjo — Recording — Aug 18
September 2026
- Lea Salonga — Live Performance — Sep 4
Upcoming Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremonies
This is where things move fast. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which runs the Walk of Fame, typically announces a ceremony roughly ten days before it happens. That’s great for spontaneity, not so great for planning six months out.
Hollywood Walk of Fame- Class of 2027 (32 Honorees)
Each year a new class is nominated, but ceremonies don’t necessarily occur within the year. Occasionally, a ceremony happens years after a nomination due to the availability of the recipient who, if living, must attend.
Motion Pictures: Cheech & Chong, Idris Elba, Sam Elliott, Elle Fanning & Dakota Fanning (double ceremony), Kate Hudson, Delroy Lindo, Sam Rockwell, Ted Sarandos
Television: David Alan Grier, Lisa Kudrow, Bill Lawrence, Pedro Pascal, Adam Scott, Jeff Probst, Keke Palmer, Raven‑Symoné
Recording: Karol G, David Guetta, Waylon Jennings (posthumous), The Ramones, Joseph Saddler (Grandmaster Flash), Marc Shaiman, Sia, Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park, Lil Wayne
Live Theatre/Performance: Jo Koy, Nicole Scherzinger, Roberto Bolle
Sports Entertainment: Jimmie Johnson
Radio: Lenard “Charlamagne tha God” McKelvey
How to Attend a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony?
Here’s the good news: You don’t need a ticket or special invitation to watch a public ceremony. It’s genuinely one of the easiest free things to do in Los Angeles once you know the basic rules.
Are Walk of Fame Ceremonies Free?
Yes. Every single Walk of Fame ceremony is free to attend, with a public viewing area open to anyone who shows up. No tickets, no RSVP, no admission fee. You just show up on the sidewalk near the announced address before the crowd fills in. Discover the legacy of Warner Bros. and its 90 years of innovation, from groundbreaking films to its lasting impact on Hollywood’s entertainment industry.
What Time Should You Arrive?
Ceremonies start right on time at 11:30 a.m. and wrap up around 12:15 p.m., so this isn’t an event you drift into over the course of an afternoon. Popular honorees draw big crowds early, so arrive early if you want a good view, especially for a popular honoree. Bring water and sunscreen.
What Happens During a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony?
A host, emcees, and a few close friends or collaborators give short speeches; the honoree says a few words, and then the star gets unveiled with the honoree crouching down for photos on their brand-new star.
It’s short, warm, and surprisingly personal for something happening on a public sidewalk. Note that chairs and step ladders aren’t allowed in the viewing area, and everyone’s asked to clear out quickly once it ends, since the street has to reopen. If you can’t make it in person, every ceremony streams live and stays archived on walkoffame.com.
2026 Honorees & How Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars Are Chosen?
How Are Walk of Fame Stars Chosen?
Nominations open every spring. This year’s window ran from April 1 to May 15. Anyone can submit a nominee, as long as the nominee agrees in writing to attend their own ceremony if selected. A Walk of Fame Selection Committee, made up of industry notables, reviews the applications each June.
From there, the Hollywood Chamber’s board of directors votes to approve the picks, and the City of Los Angeles’ Board of Public Works gives final sign-off.
Who Can Be Nominated for a Walk of Fame Star?
The criteria are fairly specific: professional achievement, at least five years working in the field, and a track record of contributing to the community. Posthumous nominations have to wait two years after the person’s death before they’re even eligible.
And there’s a real financial commitment behind every star: the honoree’s sponsor, often a studio, label, or fan group, covers the cost of the star itself, the ceremony, and its upkeep.
Planning Your Hollywood Walk of Fame Visit in 2026
What Is the Best Time to Visit the Walk of Fame?
Early morning, before 10 a.m., is your best shot at photos without a hundred strangers in the background. The boulevard gets genuinely packed by midday, especially on weekends. If you want to catch a ceremony, plan around the 11:30 a.m. start time instead.
How Can You Find an Existing Star?
The star map on walkoffame.com lets you type in a name and get the exact address, so you’re not wandering fifteen blocks hoping to spot it. Use the official star map before you go, or ask one of the costumed characters or tour guides along the boulevard, who usually know the layout better than any app.
Where Can You Park Near the Walk of Fame?
Street parking on Hollywood Boulevard is metered and gets scarce fast. If you’re staying anywhere near the Metro Red Line, the Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine stations drop you right in the middle of it and skip the parking headache entirely. Public lots can be found on Vine Street, Cherokee Ave., and at Ovation Hollywood & Highland.
Things to Do At the Hollywood Walk of Fame, LA 2026
See the TCL Chinese Theatre
A couple of blocks from the busiest stretch of stars, the forecourt here is covered in handprints and footprints of decades of movie stars. A completely different kind of Hollywood history to explore right after your ceremony visit. In that area you’ll also see the Masonic Temple now home for ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Show, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, site of first Oscars. Take a stroll north on Orange Street and you’ll see the Magic Castle, apartments from the 20s and 30s and the American Society of Cinematographers’ 1908 Mission Revival. Planning your first visit? Discover essential Hollywood Walk of Fame tips to make the most of your experience, from finding your favorite stars to exploring nearby attractions.
Visit the Dolby Theatre
Home to the Academy Awards, the Dolby sits right in the Ovation complex at Hollywood and Highland and offers behind-the-scenes tours most days.
Explore More of Hollywood
From there, Hollywood Boulevard has restaurants, vintage shops, and viewpoints worth wandering into. Make a day of it: catch the 11:30 am morning ceremony, walk the handprints at the Chinese Theatre, grab lunch nearby, and finish with sunset views from Griffith Observatory, a short drive away. Discover another iconic Los Angeles landmark by reading how Aline Barnsdall’s vision brought the world-famous Hollyhock House to life.
Ready to Experience the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony, LA?
Whether you’re planning your trip around a specific star ceremony date or just want to walk the stars at your own pace, the Walk of Fame rewards a little planning and a lot of comfortable footwear.
Pair it with a stop at the TCL Chinese Theatre or a stroll toward the Dolby, and you’ve got a real Hollywood morning; no ticket required. For more on what’s worth your time nearby, take a look at Discover Hollywood’s Places of Interest.