Honors Awards 2026
A Celebration of Cultural Excellence in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District
Date: May 24, 2026
Location: Gem Theater
District: Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District
Red Carpet: 6:00–7:00 PM
Awards Program: 7:00–9:30 PM
Meet the 2026 Honorees
-
![A digital tribute poster for an R&B male honoree named Levelle, featuring a photograph of him adjusting his glasses, surrounded by red roses on a black background, detailing the event date, location, and presenter.]()
LeVelle
R&B Male Honor
-
![A poster honoring Mary Moore for her poetry, featuring her portrait surrounded by red roses and event details for the Honors Awards 2026 on May 24, at the Gem Theater in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.]()
Mary Moore
Poetry Honor
-
![An award poster featuring a woman with natural curly hair, surrounded by red roses. The text indicates she is Sosha Oshaye, an R&B female honoree at the 2026 Honors Awards, held on May 24, 2026, at the Gem Theater in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, presented by the 18th & Vine Arts Festival Foundation.]()
Sosha Oshaye
R&B Female Honor
-
![Award poster featuring a portrait of J. Leroy Beasley with face paint resembling traditional tribal or cultural makeup, surrounded by red roses, for the 2026 Honors Awards event.]()
J. Leroy Beasley
Visual Art Honor
-
![Poster commemorating Pablo Sanhueza's Latin Music Honor at the Honors Awards 2026, featuring a portrait of him smiling, surrounded by red roses, and event details.]()
Pablo Sanhueza
Latin Music Honor
-
![Poster featuring Sean Tyler at the ICON Living Award, Honors Awards 2026, with a portrait of him singing into a vintage microphone, surrounded by red roses, on a black background.]()
Sean Tyler
ICON Living Award
-
![A digital award plaque featuring a photo of a smiling man with a beard, dressed in a beige suit, white shirt, and black tie, surrounded by red roses, for the Simmons Taylor Spoken Word Honor at the Honors Awards 2026, held on May 24, 2026, at the Gem Theater in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, presented by the 18th & Vine Arts Festival Foundation.]()
Simeon Taylor
Spoken Word Honor
-
![Black and white portrait of Lonnie McFadden, a jazz musician, framed by red roses, with event details for the 2026 Jazz Honor Honors Awards on May 24, 2026, at Gem Theater.]()
Lonnie McFadden
Jazz Honor
-
![Woman smiling with hands raised, wearing a pink blazer, black shirt with white text, necklace and bracelets, standing in front of a backdrop decorated with red roses, announcing the ICE Studios School of Dance Honors Awards 2026 on May 24, 2026, at Gem Theater in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.]()
ICE Studios School of Dance
Dance Honor
-
![A theatrical award poster featuring a smiling man with glasses and a beard in a blue suit, surrounded by red roses, with text that reads 'Shawn Edwards, Theatre / Film Honor, Honors Awards 2026, May 24, 2026, Gem Theater, Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, Presented by 18th & Vine Arts Festival Foundation.']()
Shawn Edwards
Theatre / Film Honor
-
![Book cover for Isaac Cates' R&B/Soul Honor Awards 2026 featuring a portrait of Isaac Cates surrounded by red roses, with details of the event including date, location, and presenter.]()
Isaac Cates
Gospel Honor
-
![A digital graphic design for the Jason Betts Honors Awards 2026, featuring a portrait of Jason Betts holding a keyboard, surrounded by red roses, with event details below.]()
Jason Betts
Special Recognition Award
What Are the Honors Awards?
The Honors Awards is an annual celebration recognizing individuals, artists, leaders, and organizations who have made a lasting impact on culture, creativity, and community—particularly within Kansas City and the historic 18th & Vine District.
Now in its second year, the Honors Awards was created to do more than present awards. It exists to:
Preserve cultural legacy
Celebrate living contributors
Invest visibility back into the community
Honor excellence across generations
This is not a popularity contest.
This is recognition rooted in contribution.
Performances by
-
![Event poster for Ice Dance Studio Honors Awards 2026, featuring a logo with roses on the sides, details about the event date, location, and hosts.]()
ICE Studios School of Dance
Live Dance Tribute Performance
-
![Event poster for ICON LIVING Honors Awards 2026 featuring a stage performance with women singers and drummers, surrounded by a border of red roses.]()
New List Item
Description goes here -
![Event poster for Willis Blunt Honors Awards 2026 featuring a side profile photo of a man with short hair and beard, on a black background decorated with red roses. Details include date, location, and hosts.]()
Willis Blunt
R&B Male Tribute
-
![A Vegas-style award event poster featuring a black and white photo of a woman with curly hair, hoop earrings, and makeup, surrounded by red roses. It announces Piaget Long Honors Awards 2026, with details about the date, location, and hosts.]()
Piaget Long
Theatre Tribute Performance
-
![Event poster for Honors Awards 2026 featuring a woman with braided red hair in a pink off-shoulder dress, surrounded by a border of red roses. The event details include date, location, and hosts.]()
Comfy Stennis
Poetry Tribute
-
![Event poster for JAYSOL Honorees Awards 2026. Features a woman with dark hair, sunglasses, gold lipstick, wearing a bright green sweatshirt with 'HILLMAN COLLEGE' and a logo, and plaid pants. She is positioned in front of a black background decorated with red roses.]()
JaySol
R&B Female Tribute
-
![Event poster featuring a woman with dark hair, wearing a white shirt layered over denim, surrounded by red roses, promoting Ashley Brewer's Honors Awards 2026 at the Gem Theater on May 24, 2026, presented by 18th & Vine Arts Festival Foundation.]()
Ashley Brewer
Tribute Performance
-
![Event poster for Kim Keys' Honors Awards 2026. Features a woman in a sparkly red dress with a hand on her hip, surrounded by red roses, with event details including date, location, and organizer.]()
Kim Keys
R&B Female Tribute
-
![Event poster for Delynia Jannell Honors Awards 2026. Features a woman with long black and blonde hair, wearing a strapless black sequined dress, surrounded by red roses with black leaves. Text includes event details such as date, location, and hosts.]()
Delynia Jannell
R&B Female Tribute
-
![Poster for Charmelle Colfield's Honors Awards 2026, featuring her portrait, surrounded by red roses, with event details including date, location, and organizers.]()
Charmelle Colfield
Tribute Performance
-
![Promotional poster for the Honors Awards 2026 featuring a man in a pink suit with glasses, surrounded by red roses, with event details including date, location, and organizers.]()
Marcus J
R&B Male Tribute
-
![A promotional flyer for the Honors Awards 2026 event featuring a photo of Melissa Patterson Hazley, surrounded by red roses, with event details and date.]()
Melissa Patterson Hazley
City Proclamations
-
![Poster for the 2026 Honors Awards featuring a photo of Chrystal Rucker, surrounded by red roses, with event details such as date, location, and sponsorship.]()
Chrystal Rucker
Tribute Performance
-
![]()
Chloe
Jazz Tribute Performance
-
![Event poster for Anthony Saunders Honours Awards 2026 with a black and white portrait of a man with his finger over his lips, surrounded by red roses and black leaves.]()
Anthony Saunders
ICON Living Tribute Performance
-
![A woman in an orange dress with one arm on her hip, wearing large geometric earrings, against a black background with red roses and gold accents, promoting the Kimology Honors Awards 2026 event.]()
Kimology
Host
-
![Poster for Quez at the 2026 Honors Awards, featuring an image of Quez with sunglasses and a purple suit, surrounded by red roses.]()
Quez
Host
Sponsorship of the Honors Awards supports:
Artist recognition
Cultural preservation
Community storytelling
Future creative programming
Sponsors receive:
Brand visibility
Program recognition
Digital promotion
On-site presence
Alignment with cultural excellence
