This year’s cohort spans a wide spectrum of human endeavor, bringing together historians, visual and performance artists, scientists, anthropologists, composers, and literary writers. Each selected fellow will receive a no-strings-attached award of $800,000, distributed in installments over a five-year period. The unrestricted nature of the financial support is designed to provide recipients with the time, space, and resources to pursue their creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations without the traditional burdens of fundraising or financial precarity.
While the 2026 class honors trailblazers from numerous disciplines, the literary arts are prominently represented this year. Three exceptional writers—known for their distinct voices, narrative power, and profound cultural impact—have been named to the prestigious cohort. The inclusion of these authors highlights the vital role that storytelling, poetry, and fiction play in examining human history, preserving cultural memory, and making sense of the complexities of modern life.
Among the literary honorees is Layli Long Soldier, a celebrated poet whose work explores ways to articulate Native American histories and celebrate enduring kinship, strength, and creativity. Long Soldier’s contributions to contemporary literature have long been praised for their formal innovation and emotional resonance, bridging historical atrocities with the living resilience of Indigenous communities. Through her verse, she examines the nuances of language, political sovereignty, and historical documentation, offering readers a lens through which to understand the ongoing impacts of colonization while honoring the vibrant continuity of Native life and expression.
Joining her in the 2026 cohort is acclaimed fiction writer Maaza Mengiste. Mengiste has earned widespread critical acclaim for her powerful storytelling, which reveals the human costs of political violence through a compelling blend of history, memory, and imagination. Her works delve deeply into the psychological and physical landscapes of individuals caught in the crosshairs of war and state oppression, ensuring that forgotten or marginalized historical struggles are rendered with immense emotional clarity and narrative force. By weaving rigorous historical research with deeply felt imaginative empathy, Mengiste examines how nations remember and how individuals survive collective trauma.
Rounding out the trio of recognized literary writers is Bryan Washington, a fiction writer celebrated for capturing the fragile beauty of modern relationships in stories shaped by place, memory, and rituals of daily care. Washington’s narratives often navigate the intersections of identity, community, and geography, illuminating the quiet, profound moments that define human connection. Through prose that is both razor-sharp and deeply tender, he charts the lives of characters attempting to find stability and intimacy in a rapidly changing world, establishing himself as one of the most distinctive and observant voices of his generation.
The announcement of the 2026 MacArthur Fellows once again underscores the foundation’s enduring commitment to identifying and empowering individuals whose past achievements point toward an even more impactful future. By supporting these 20 visionaries across the arts, sciences, and humanities, the MacArthur Foundation continues to invest in the potential of human creativity to address complex societal challenges, enrich cultural discourse, and deepen our collective understanding of the world.
