2020 PEN America Gala

The PEN America Gala will merge our annual New York Literary Gala and Los Angeles LitFest Gala into one national, virtual celebration on December 8. Our digital program will be a crucial moment for our community to stand together in recognition of our deserving Honorees and to fortify our mission at a time of extraordinary needs and demands.

The program will include former U.S. President Barack Obama in conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Hamilton Ron Chernow for an intimate, writer-to-writer conversation about Obama’s new memoir A Promised Land, the importance of truth, and why the freedom to write matters now more than ever.

Registration is free and open to the public.

6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT: VIP Virtual Reception
7:00pm–8:00pm ET / 4:00pm–5:00pm PT: Gala Livestream

Audible, Inc. is a proud sponsor of PEN America’s Literary Service Award, presented this year to writer and performer Patti Smith.