Rose Byrne named Hasty Pudding’s 2026 Woman of the Year as Harvard plans February parade
Harvard’s famed student theater group has its next honoree. Golden Globe–winning actress Rose Byrne will serve as Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 2026 Woman of the Year, the group announced Wednesday afternoon.
The Hasty Pudding honor comes at a peak moment in Byrne’s career. Earlier this month, she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the 2025 film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. She is also a two-time Emmy nominee for her role in the FX legal drama Damages and is widely known for starring roles in hit comedies including Bridesmaids and Instant Family.
Each year, Hasty Pudding Theatricals selects one male and one female celebrity as its Man and Woman of the Year. Honorees receive a ceremonial Pudding Pot and are playfully roasted by members of the undergraduate theater company. This year’s Man of the Year, actor Michael Keaton, is scheduled to be roasted on February 6.
Byrne will be honored on February 13 with a public parade through Harvard Square, followed by the formal presentation of her Pudding Pot. While on campus, she is also expected to attend Hasty Pudding’s annual musical comedy production, Salooney Tunes.
The celebration was originally planned for January 30 but was postponed due to travel difficulties caused by last weekend’s winter storm, according to an email sent to ticketholders.
Last year’s Woman of the Year, Cynthia Erivo, drew large crowds as she paraded through Massachusetts Avenue with members of the troupe.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals said the group is proud to recognize Byrne’s impact on film and television, calling her a standout presence in contemporary entertainment. For Harvard Square, February will belong to Rose Byrne.
