A star-studded tribute to Eddie Murphy will now reach a global audience.
On Tuesday, March 31, Netflix said it will stream the 51st AFI Lifetime Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy.
The American Film Institute previously announced it selected Murphy as this year’s recipient of the honor, celebrating his four-decade career in film, television and stand-up comedy.
Recent AFI Lifetime Achievement recipients include Francis Ford Coppola, Nicole Kidman, Julie Andrews, Denzel Washington, George Clooney, and Diane Keaton.
In previous years, the ceremony aired on cable channels including on TNT and TCM. This is the first time the tribute gala will stream on Netflix.
“AFI is grateful to Ted Sarandos and the talented team at Netflix for the opportunity to share this proud tradition with the world,” Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO, said in a statement Tuesday. “And to do so in honor of Eddie Murphy will allow us to shine a proper light on the impact of art at a time the world needs it most.”
This year’s gala is scheduled to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Once the show is edited down and polished, it will premiere on Netflix May 31, 2026.
Each year proceeds from the event benefit AFI’s education and arts programs.
Murphy has a long-running relationship with Netflix, so the gala is a natural fit. The streamer released a documentary on the comedian’s career titled Being Eddie in November 2025. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F debuted on the platform in July 2024, and Netflix released the film Dolemite Is My Name in October 2019.
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