While walking the streets of London, you’ve surely noticed those famous round blue plaques (Blue Plaques) on building façades. This year, nine new names are being added to them. English Heritage has announced the individuals who will be honoured across different parts of London throughout 2026.
Selected from public nominations, these nine figures span a broad spectrum—from science and cinema to racial equality struggles and wartime strategy—leaving indelible marks on history.
Who’s on the 2026 “Blue” List?
The exact buildings where the plaques will be installed have not yet been revealed (as discussions with property owners are ongoing), but the honoured names are now confirmed:
Laurence Olivier — The unforgettable actor of Shakespearean roles and one of the founders of the National Theatre. Although he already has a plaque in Dorking, this year he is finally being honoured in London itself.
Julia Margaret Cameron — A pioneering photographer who began at the age of 48 and left an indelible mark on the Victorian era with her emotionally intense portraits.
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin — The brilliant astronomer who discovered in 1925 that stars are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, only to have her findings dismissed at the time by male colleagues.
Kamal Chunchie — A tireless Methodist minister who fought for racial equality in London’s East End.
Dusé Mohamed Ali — Founder of the first political magazine in Britain owned and edited by a Black individual.
Dudley Clarke — The mastermind behind the deception operations that changed the course of the Second World War. Famous for creating phantom armies to confuse the Axis powers.
Jill Craigie — A feminist documentary filmmaker who focused on post-war housing shortages and women’s rights.
Gertrude Tuckwell — One of Britain’s first female magistrates; she devoted her life to the rights of working women and unionisation.
Stefan Zweig — The world-renowned Austrian biographer who fled to London. Sometimes called “the Pepsi of Austrian literature” by critics, he never lost his popularity.
Apartment No:26 Note
The Blue Plaque scheme celebrates not only famous names but also the tangible connection between London’s buildings and the lives lived within them. Last year (2025), Audrey Hepburn, Winifred Atwell, and Marc Bolan were among those honoured.
Small Note: Although the locations of the plaques are still being kept “secret,” unveiling ceremonies will usually take place gradually throughout the year.
Get ready—London’s streets are about to tell even more stories.
