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2026 Literary Gala

PEN AMERICA

2026 Literary Gala

Join us at the annual Literary Gala on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City — a luminous gathering of authors, publishers, and advocates — as we honor those who stand at the front lines of free expression and literature. This unforgettable evening raises crucial support for PEN America’s cultural programs and advocacy to defend the freedom to read, write, and speak in a time when those rights face unprecedented threats.

Attire: Black Tie

2026 Host

Portrait of B.J. Novak in a light gray blazer, labeled as Master of Ceremonies for the 2026 Gala. Text at the bottom reads B.J. Novak, Writer and Actor on a gray background.

Presenters

A woman with reddish hair pulled back, wearing a light-colored top, rests her face on her hand and looks at the camera. Text reads: “2026 Gala Presenter. Maya Hawke, Actor, Singer/Songwriter.”.
A bald man with glasses smiles while wearing a light blue checked shirt. Text reads: Presenter, 2026 Gala, Ali Velshi, Journalist and Writer. A blue logo appears in the corner.

2026 Honorees

Ann Patchett, smiling and wearing a floral top, sits in front of a colorful bookshelf. Text reads: 2026 PEN/Audible Literary Service Award and Ann Patchett, Author, Bookseller.

PEN/Audible Literary Service Award

A smiling man with short, tousled brown hair wearing a gray blazer and white shirt. Text reads: VISIONARY HONOREE 2024 BUSINESS Jason Blum, Founder & CEO, Blumhouse. A purple book icon is shown.

Business Visionary Honoree

PEN/Benenson Courage Award Honorees

A woman with long dark hair and a blue blouse smiles at the camera. Text reads: 2026 Pen/Benenson Courage Award Honoree, Tatiana Silvas, Rutherford County Library Alliance.
Portrait of Keri Lambert, wearing glasses and a purple top, with straight brown hair. Text reads: 2026 PEN/BENENSON COURAGE AWARD HONOREE. Keri Lambert, Rutherford County Library Alliance.

PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Honorees

Black and white portrait of Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, with text stating she is a writer, poet, and human rights defender, and a 2026 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award Honoree. A blue pen icon is also visible.
Black-and-white portrait of a smiling man with glasses and a beard. Text reads: 2026 PEN/BARBEY FREEDOM TO WRITE AWARD HONOREE. Ali Asadollahi, Writer, poet, and translator. A blue book icon is also present.

Literary Co-Chairs

A man with short dark hair in a suit jacket rests his face on his hand, looking at the camera. Text reads: 2026 Gala Literary Co-Chair. David Remnick, Author; Editor, The New Yorker.
A man in a suit smiles slightly at the camera. Text on the image reads: “2026 GALA, LITERARY CO-CHAIR, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Author; Professor, NYU.” An illustrated purple book appears on the lower left.
Meet all Literary Hosts >>

Gala Co-Chairs

Karen Mehiel

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Colette Bennett

Support the Gala

Sponsorships, Program Ads, Tables, Tickets >> Attend the Afterparty >>

For more information and other ways to submit payment, please call 917‑710‑5028, or email [email protected].

Learn more about our annual Literary Gala and see recaps from prior years’ celebrations.