Few Filipino voices are as celebrated as Lea Salonga. Many were reminded of this recently by Salonga’s viral appearance at D23 Expo 2026, where, as part of the Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration, she sang Reflection, A Whole New World, and When You Wish Upon A Star. And to further solidify her legacy as one of the best to ever do it, Salonga will be honored with her very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this September.
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Lea Salonga Gets Her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
From Broadway to West End, Hollywood to Manila, Salonga’s legacy is undeniable, and her star as part of the Walk of Fame Class of 2026 is even more proof of her contributions to arts and entertainment. As the recipient of the 2,855th star in the Live Performance category, Salonga is the first Filipina and homegrown Filipino in history to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and joins a handful of other celebrities with Filipino heritage to get their own star, such as Bruno Mars. The achievement adds one more historic recognition to the ground-breaking artist who is no stranger to making history for Filipinos and Asians in general.
The ceremony will be held at 6255 Hollywood Boulevard on September 4. The program will be hosted by journalist Sibley Scoles, where Salonga’s Mulan co-star Ming-Na Wen, who voiced the Disney princess in the animated movie, will serve as guest speaker. Just a couple of days later, on September 6, Salonga will also be honored at the 2026 Manila International Film Festival, which nominated the Broadway star to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for consideration of a star, with the Icon Award during the festival’s Closing Night Gala.
It goes without saying that the honor is one worthy of a woman who for decades has captivated global audiences with her world-class talent. Her path to stardom began when she became a breakout star playing Kim in Miss Saigon in the West End in London in September 1989 and on Broadway in 1991.
Receiving universal acclaim, Salonga was awarded the 1991 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, becoming the first Asian in history to do so while also racking up a slew of other accolades from the Laurence Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards. It set the stage for a successful career in musical theater, which includes roles in major productions such as Les Misérables and Once on This Island.
In movies and TV, Salonga starred in her fair share of hit Filipino movies, but the Grammy-nominated artist is best known for providing the singing voice of two Disney princesses as Mulan and Princess Jasmine, helping turn Reflection and A Whole New World into Disney classics.
While it’s rarely an uneventful year for Salonga, this 2026 has been particularly exciting. Aside from her continued work in theater, this year will also see Salonga appear in her first DreamWorks Animation movie in the highly anticipated Forgotten Island, where she voices the movie’s villain, the Manananggal.
Outside of her work in entertainment, Salonga is also seen as a role model of what a loving parent should be in how she’s openly accepted and supported her son, Nic, following his transition and coming out. And even with her status as one of the greats, the celebrated star is more than willing to use her time and platform to highlight, spotlight, and mentor the next generation of talents and champion proper representation in arts and entertainment.
When Salonga’s name is etched onto the pavement on the famous Los Angeles street in September alongside some of the most famous stars to have ever graced Hollywood, it will immortalize her place as a history-making Filipina who took Filipino talent to new heights.
Featured Image and Photos: MEGA Archives, Photographed by BJ Pascual, LEA SALONGA (via Instagram),
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Lea Salonga is the first Filipina and first homegrown Filipino to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, earning the 2,855th star in the Live Performance category as part of the Walk of Fame Class of 2026.
The ceremony takes place on September 4 at 6255 Hollywood Boulevard, hosted by journalist Sibley Scoles. Salonga’s Mulan co-star Ming-Na Wen, who voiced the animated film’s title character, will serve as guest speaker.
Salonga is best known for originating the role of Kim in Miss Saigon on the West End and Broadway, winning the 1991 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical as the first Asian to do so, and providing the singing voices of Disney princesses Mulan and Jasmine.
Yes. Just two days after her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, Salonga will receive the Icon Award at the 2026 Manila International Film Festival’s Closing Night Gala on September 6, which also nominated her for the Walk of Fame honor.
Salonga is voicing the villain, the Manananggal, in her first DreamWorks Animation movie, Forgotten Island, marking a new chapter in her career alongside her continued work in musical theater.
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