The New England Council Announces Honorees for the 2026 Annual Celebration
The New England Council is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 New Englander of the Year Awards and Legacy Awards, which will be presented at the Council’s Annual Celebration on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts.
Each year, the Annual Celebration brings together nearly 1,800 business, nonprofit, academic, and civic leaders from across the six New England states to recognize individuals whose leadership, service, and achievements have made a lasting impact on the region.
2026 New Englanders of the Year
First presented in 1964, the New Englander of the Year Award honors individuals who have contributed significantly to the economic growth and quality of life of the New England region. The 2026 honorees are:
- Eliza Dushku Palandjian, Mental Health Counselor, Advocate, and Philanthropist
- Pamela D. Everhart, Senior Vice President and Head of Regional Public Affairs & Impact, Fidelity Investments
- The Honorable Angus King, United States Senator from Maine
These distinguished leaders have each made meaningful contributions to New England through their work in public service, business, philanthropy, and advocacy.
2026 Legacy Award Recipients
The Council will also recognize two recipients of its Legacy Award, which was established during the Council’s Centennial Celebration in 2025. The award honors past New Englanders of the Year whose influence and contributions continue to leave a lasting mark on the region.
The 2026 Legacy Award recipients are:
- Ken Burns, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker
- The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senator from New Hampshire
The inaugural Legacy Award was presented in 2025 to Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin.
A Celebration of Leadership and Service
“We are looking forward to celebrating the contributions and achievements of our incredible honorees this fall,” said James T. Brett, President and CEO of The New England Council. “Each of our honorees has made valuable contributions to the economic wellbeing and quality of life in our region. We are grateful to each of them for their tireless work in our communities, and proud to call them New Englanders.”
The Council’s Annual Celebration has become one of New England’s premier business and civic events, bringing together leaders from every sector of the regional economy to recognize excellence and strengthen connections across the six-state region.
The 2026 Annual Celebration will begin with a reception at 4:30 p.m., followed by the dinner and awards program from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Additional information about the event, sponsorship opportunities, and individual honorees will be announced in the coming months.