Jim Carrey, one of Hollywood’s most distinctive voices, is set to receive an honorary César Award in Paris next year. The French Academy of Cinema Arts and Techniques announced that the 63-year-old actor will be recognised at the 51st César Awards, held on 27 February 2026 at the Olympia.
In its statement, the Academy praised Carrey’s versatility, calling his career “a constant audacity, constantly pushing the boundaries of art and performance.” They highlighted not only his blockbuster successes but also his more introspective work, such as the Showtime series Kidding, as well as his artistic ventures as a bestselling author and painter.
For Carrey, this honour arrives at a time of reflection. He recently returned to screens as Doctor Eggman in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 after a two-year hiatus. Speaking about the break, he told E! News:
“I think whenever you step away from something, even if it’s something you love, you get a new appreciation for it. I do value the rest. And I also value getting out of people’s faces, you know what I mean?”
Yet in his typically candid style, the Dumb and Dumber star admitted another reason for his comeback:
“I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And, you know, it’s just… I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly.”
Carrey had previously declared his retirement while promoting Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 2022, telling reporters:
“Well, I’m retiring. I’m being fairly serious. I feel like – and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists – I have enough. I’ve done enough. I am enough.”
The upcoming César Award, France’s highest film honour, serves as recognition not just of Carrey’s long and unconventional career, but of an artist who continues to reinvent himself while staying unflinchingly honest.