{"id":138400,"date":"2026-07-15T10:50:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T14:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iemmys.tv\/?p=138400"},"modified":"2026-07-15T10:43:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T14:43:41","slug":"bela-bajaria-to-receive-2026-international-emmy-founders-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iemmys.tv\/bela-bajaria-to-receive-2026-international-emmy-founders-award\/","title":{"rendered":"BELA BAJARIA TO RECEIVE 2026 INTERNATIONAL EMMY\u00ae FOUNDERS AWARD"},"content":{"rendered":"

BELA BAJARIA TO RECEIVE 2026 INTERNATIONAL EMMY\u00ae<\/sup> FOUNDERS AWARD<\/h2>\n

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Netflix Chief Content Officer to be Honored <\/em>for her Transformational Leadership at <\/em>54th International Emmy\u00ae <\/sup>Awards Gala, <\/em>in New York, on November 23<\/em><\/p>\n

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New York, July 15, 2026<\/strong> \u2014 The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today that Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria will receive the 2026 International Emmy\u00ae <\/sup>Founders Award in recognition of her transformational leadership in reshaping the global entertainment landscape. She will receive this prestigious award at the 54th International Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> Awards Gala on Monday, November 23, in New York City.<\/p>\n

\u201cBela Bajaria is among the most consequential executives in television today,\u201d said International Academy President & CEO Bruce L. Paisner. \u201cShe has built a global content operation of remarkable scale and creative ambition, in which stories told in any language can become worldwide phenomena. Her leadership has produced some of the most celebrated programming of our era. We are thrilled to present her with the International Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> Founders Award.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the International Academy, whose mission reflects everything I believe about what television can be,\u201d said Bajaria.\u00a0\u201cThe stories that have resonated most with audiences around the world are the ones rooted in a specific place, a specific truth \u2014 and what we have proven, over and over, is that authenticity travels. That is a gift I never take for granted, and I am so proud of the extraordinary creators and teams who make it possible every day.”<\/p>\n

As Netflix\u2019s Chief Content Officer, Bajaria oversees a global content operation of extraordinary scale \u2014 reaching nearly one billion people in over 190 countries in more than 50 languages with more than 325 million members worldwide. Over the past decade, Netflix has invested more than $125 billion in productions globally, generating over $325 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 750,000 jobs.<\/p>\n

Bajaria\u2019s television track record is equally notable. \u201cStranger Things\u201d concluded its five-season run with the largest English-language premiere in Netflix history, amassing 1.2 billion views and culminating in a nationwide theatrical finale. The Korean phenomenon \u201cSquid Game\u201d remains Netflix\u2019s most-watched series ever with 265.2 million views, making Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> history as the first non-English language winner for Best Drama. \u201cWednesday\u201d stands as Netflix\u2019s #1 English-language TV series with 252.1 million views, \u201cAdolescence\u201d led a clean sweep at the 2026 Golden Globes; and “BEEF” swept the awards circuit including eight Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> wins. In 2025 alone, Netflix secured 120 Primetime Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> nominations across 44 titles, with 35 Golden Globe nominations and 18 Academy Award nominations in 2026.<\/p>\n

Among the defining achievements of Bajaria\u2019s tenure is her conviction that compelling storytelling can transcend language, geography, and convention. Under her direction, Netflix has produced some of the most celebrated non-English language programming in television. \u201cSquid Game\u201d (Korea) elevated subtitled entertainment to an unprecedented level of global mainstream success. \u201cMoney Heist\u201d (Spain), \u201cLupin\u201d (France), \u201cCall My Agent!\u201d (France), \u201cThe Empress\u201d (Germany), \u201cExtraordinary Attorney Woo\u201d (Korea), \u201cDelhi Crime\u201d (India), and \u201cAmar Singh Chamkila\u201d (India) have each earned international acclaim, industry honors, and devoted global audiences, with many also receiving International Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> recognition. Recent non-English films continue that record: \u201cExterritorial\u201d (Germany) reached #1 on the U.S. Nielsen chart and ranks among Netflix\u2019s all-time most popular non-English films, while \u201cThe Great Flood\u201d (Korea) entered the Nielsen Top 10.<\/p>\n

Under Bajaria\u2019s leadership, Netflix has also delivered some of the most commercially and critically successful films of the streaming era: \u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d became the service\u2019s most popular film ever with over 481.6 million views worldwide, its song \u201cGolden\u201d making history as the first K-Pop Grammy winner; Guillermo del Toro\u2019s \u201cFrankenstein\u201d garnered nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture; and \u201cTrain Dreams\u201d earned top honors at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, alongside multiple Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Cinematography.<\/p>\n

Bajaria has also spearheaded Netflix\u2019s expansion into live programming and sports, securing multiyear partnerships with the WWE, NFL, and MLB. The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight drew 65 million concurrent streams, while the 2025 NFL Christmas Day doubleheader became the most-streamed NFL game in U.S. history. She champions Netflix\u2019s $100 million global initiative for emerging storytellers, which has supported over 25,000 people through nearly 300 programs worldwide, and leads the service\u2019s sustainability efforts in production. Bajaria also serves on the boards of The Coca-Cola Company, the Paley Center for Media, Cedars-Sinai, the Peabody Awards, and other institutions that connect entertainment with civic life.<\/p>\n

Past recipients of the International Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> Founders Award include Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, J.J. Abrams, Jesse Armstrong, Shonda Rhimes, Ryan Murphy, David E. Kelley, and most recently, Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden. Bajaria will accept the special Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> in New York City on Monday, Nov. 23, at the International Emmy\u00ae<\/sup> Awards black-tie gala.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Gala partners are: Ay Yapim, CJ ENM, Dubai Studios, Ernst & Young, Globo, Mediafellows, MIP, Plural, Sofitel and Variety.<\/p>\n

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About the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences<\/h3>\n

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The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes excellence in television produced outside of the United States with the prestigious Emmy\u00ae Award. Currently celebrating programming across multiple categories including Arts Programming, Current Affairs, Comedy, Documentary, Drama Series, News, Non-Scripted Entertainment, Short-Form Series, Sports Documentary, Telenovela, and TV Movie\/Mini-Series. The International Academy also recognizes excellence in Performances and Kids programming.<\/p>\n

Beyond its awards activity, the International Academy is a membership-based organization comprised of leading media and entertainment figures from 70+ countries from all sectors of television. The Academy\u2019s yearly schedule of events includes the prestigious International Emmy\u00ae Awards held in New York City, and a range of industry events including a Festival, Panels on substantive topics, Members-only events, and an Education Initiative.<\/p>\n

For more information, go to iemmys.tv.<\/a><\/p>\n

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About Netflix<\/h3>\n

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Netflix is one of the world\u2019s leading entertainment services offering TV series, films, games and live programming across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Media Contacts<\/h3>\n

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The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences<\/p>\n

Yiota Pagoulatos, Director, Communications & Partnerships<\/p>\n

yiota.pagoulatos@iemmys.tv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Lippin Group<\/p>\n

iemmys@lippingroup.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Netflix<\/p>\n

Nidia Caceros Kilde, Communications<\/p>\n

nkilde@netflix.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BELA BAJARIA TO RECEIVE 2026 INTERNATIONAL EMMY\u00ae FOUNDERS AWARD \u00a0 Netflix Chief Content Officer to be Honored for her Transformational Leadership at 54th International Emmy\u00ae Awards Gala, in New York, … <\/p>\n

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