CNN Names Top Five Heroes for 2026
Five individuals have been selected for the annual recognition of extraordinary contributions to their communities.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Awards
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CNN has announced the Top 5 CNN Heroes for 2026, honoring individuals dedicated to improving the lives of others worldwide. The group includes Dion Dawson, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Andrew Lunetta, Jaina Spagis, and Kiko Trujillo.
Why it matters
This initiative highlights everyday people performing extraordinary work to support their communities. The program provides significant financial resources to help these honorees expand their humanitarian efforts.
Each of the Top 5 Heroes receives a $10,000 award, while the Hero of the Year earns an additional $100,000 from CNN and another $100,000 from the Elevate Prize Foundation. The remaining four honorees receive up to $50,000 in donation matching.
The players
CNN
This is a global news organization that produces the annual tribute to recognize humanitarian efforts.
Elevate Prize Foundation
This organization supports the CNN Heroes program by providing additional grant funding to the honorees.
Dion Dawson
He is one of the 2026 Top 5 CNN Heroes, based in Chicago, Illinois.
Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
She is a 2026 Top 5 CNN Hero, working in Entebbe, Uganda.
Andrew Lunetta
He is a 2026 Top 5 CNN Hero, based in Syracuse, New York.
The details
The selected heroes, representing diverse global locations, are recognized for their humanitarian service. The public can now vote daily to determine the final CNN Hero of the Year, with results to be revealed during a televised tribute event.
Timeline
October 28, 2026: The Top 5 CNN Heroes were revealed and public voting began.
November 29, 2026: Public voting for the CNN Hero of the Year ends.
December 5, 2026: The CNN Heroes tribute broadcast airs at 8pm ET/PT.
December 6, 2026: The broadcast becomes available on demand.
Culture Shift
This announcement follows the established precedent of the CNN Heroes annual tribute, which has spotlighted grassroots humanitarianism for nearly two decades. The program reinforces a shift toward celebrating personal advocacy over institutional charity models.
Viewers can participate by casting up to 10 votes daily through the official portal until the end of November. These daily actions directly determine which humanitarian project receives the additional $100,000 grand prize.
The takeaway
The CNN Heroes program demonstrates how individual contributions can garner international support and resources for community development. Readers interested in humanitarian work can support these projects by engaging in the public voting process before the November 29 deadline.
What happens next
Public voting for the CNN Hero of the Year closes on November 29, 2026, followed by the reveal of the winner during the tribute broadcast on December 5, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the program at the Awards section.
More information
To cast your daily vote or learn more about the candidates, visit the CNN Heroes voting and donation portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CNN - Cable News Network.
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