Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg named Australian of the Year for 2026 | Australia Day
As a little girl, Katherine Bennell-Pegg would lie on the dry grass in her backyard, look up at the stars and dream of one day reaching them.
Although he hasn’t yet entered space, the now 41-year-old is closer than most would hope.
Bennell-Pegg, the first Australian astronaut to train under its own flag, was awarded Australian of the Year, one of the country’s highest awards.
The trailblazing space scientist said he was inspired by astronauts Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas, who grew up in Australia but traveled to space as US citizens in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
“When I received my blue flying suit, with a bright Australian flag on my left shoulder, it was quite emotional because it was pointing to something much bigger than me,” he said in his acceptance speech at a ceremony in Canberra on Sunday night.
“It has been said that the door has opened for Australia to take our place at the forefront of human endeavour.”
Bennell-Pegg said she hopes to use the award to inspire young people to follow their dreams.
“This gave me hope; one day more Australian flags on spacesuits will follow,” he said.
Born in Sydney, Bennell-Pegg grew up on the city’s northern beaches and studied aeronautical engineering and physics at the University of Sydney.
He received two master’s degrees in Europe and was invited to receive astronaut training at the European Space Agency in 2021.
In 2024, she became the first Australian woman to graduate from the program and the first astronaut to fly under the Australian flag.
The 41-year-old calls Adelaide home, where he volunteers at the West Beach Surf Life Saving club while he waits to be called up for his spaceflight.
He was appointed as an Air Force reserve officer in December 2024.
Bennell-Pegg takes over the Australian of the Year award from AFL legend Neale Daniher, who was awarded the honor in 2025 for his work raising more than $100 million for motor neurone disease research.
Daniher, who also has MND, did not attend the awards ceremony at Canberra’s National Arboretum on Sunday because he was too unwell to fly, his wife Jan said.
Awards night host Leigh Sales said: “We call MND a monster. It has been struggling for the last few months.”
“MND has robbed Neale of his ability to move, speak, eat, swallow and will eventually take away his ability to breathe.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the establishment of the Neale Daniher MND clinic network, a government-funded program to help tackle the neurological condition.
Albanese announced the program would help more Australians access clinical trials, treatment and care.
“Neale, your courage and advocacy have given hope to so many, and we will ensure that your work continues to change lives,” he said.
Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and local hero awards were also handed out on Sunday night.
Former electrician-turned-ultramarathon runner Nedd Brockmann won the Young Australian category, known for running from Perth to Sydney to raise money for a homeless charity.
Pioneering dementia researcher Henry Brodaty has won the Senior Australian of the Year award for his work identifying cost-effective, targeted interventions to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The local hero award went to West Australian Noongar man Frank Mitchell, who has created more than 70 skills-training roles for Indigenous people in the construction and electrical industries.
