Mariah Carey will be honored as the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year at the organization’s annual fundraiser. The event will be held on Friday, Jan. 30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, two days before the 68th annual Grammy Awards at the adjacent Crypto.com Arena.

Carey will become the youngest person of the year honoree since Sting received the honor in 2004. She will become the youngest woman to receive the honor since Gloria Estefan, who was just 36 when she received the honor in 1994.

“We are honored to recognize Mariah Carey as this year’s MusiCares Person of the Year, a true creative force and once-in-a-generation talent,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, said in a statement. “Her artistry and her voice have helped shape the sound of our times. We look forward to celebrating her remarkable career on this very special night.”

This will be MusiCares’ 35th benefit gala. (The event wasn’t held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.) The gala has raised millions of dollars to support MusiCares’ programs, including health and wellness services, addiction recovery, preventive care, disaster relief, and emergency support for music professionals.

The first Person of the Year gala (honoring David Crosby) was held in 1991, two days before the 33rd annual Grammy Awards ceremony at which Carey won her first two Grammys – best new artist and best pop vocal performance, female for breakthrough smash, “Vision of Love.”

Carey joins a distinguished list of MusiCares honorees. The last five recipients of the award are Aerosmith, Joni Mitchell, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, Jon Bon Jovi and Grateful Dead.

Carey’s philanthropic works include providing relief for communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina and the COVID-19 pandemic. She founded Camp Mariah in partnership with the Fresh Air Fund to support underserved youth and has championed initiatives advancing health, education and social welfare.

“Mariah Carey’s influence extends far beyond her remarkable artistry,” Theresa Wolters, executive director of MusiCares, said in a statement. “She has used her platform consistently to provide tangible support to communities, whether through disaster relief, youth empowerment, or programs that help those facing barriers to opportunity. Her work exemplifies the values at the heart of MusiCares: creating systems of care that lift people up and ensure music professionals and communities can thrive. Honoring her as Person of the Year celebrates both her incredible musical legacy and her dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”

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