PEN America’s 2026 Festival: Literature’s Defiant Return

PEN America has announced the lineup and dates for its 2026 World Voices Festival, a four-day international literary event scheduled to be held from April 29 to May 2 in both New York City and Los Angeles. This year’s festival aims to bring together over 140 writers from more than 40 countries, underscoring literature’s role in fostering global understanding and challenging division. The event is positioned as an affirmation of PEN America’s commitment to championing writers and defending free expression, especially in a contemporary climate marked by increasing barriers to international exchange and escalating attacks on free expression.

A Return Amidst Controversy

The 2026 festival arrives after a turbulent period for PEN America’s World Voices initiative. The 2024 festival was canceled entirely, and its annual awards ceremony was also called off, following a significant number of authors withdrawing their participation. These withdrawals were a direct response to PEN America’s perceived insufficient condemnation of the war in Gaza. Authors and translators expressed that the organization had “betrayed the organization’s professed commitment to peace and equality for all” by failing to join calls for an immediate ceasefire. In response to the 2024 cancellations, PEN America stated that “amid this climate, it became impossible to mount the festival in keeping with the principles upon which it was founded 20 years ago.” The 2026 festival is the first to take place under the new joint leadership of Summer Lopez and Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, who were appointed Co-Chief Executive Officers in February.

Festival Programming and Vision

The 2026 World Voices Festival is described as an “act of jubilant defiance” and an insistence on the power of literature to unite and counteract narrow-mindedness. The festival’s theme emphasizes literature’s enduring ability to transcend borders and challenge divisive forces. Programming will span across various venues in New York and Los Angeles, including bookstores, schools, parks, and historic sites, offering accessible and engaging experiences for audiences. In addition to author talks and panel discussions, the festival will feature public activations in New York, such as the 10th annual Indie Lit Fair in Washington Square and a large-scale installation of books from the anti-censorship collective Unbannable Library in Union Square. The Afghan artist collective ArtLords will also contribute a public mural. The opening event on April 29 is set to feature Judith Butler, Molly Jong-Fast, and Phil Klay.

Historical Context and Significance

Founded in the wake of 9/11 and the Iraq War, the PEN World Voices Festival was established to combat cultural isolationism and affirm the power of literature to foster international understanding and dialogue. Organizers note that the current moment bears a “chilling resemblance” to the period from which the festival emerged, highlighting its continued relevance. The festival has consistently aimed to foster a vibrant international hub where writers and readers can explore literature’s power to inspire, provoke, and illuminate, transforming the solitary act of reading into an opportunity for collective connection. The diverse lineup of featured authors, including Leila Aboulela, Agustina Bazterrica, Siri Hustvedt, Daniel Kehlmann, Laila Lalami, Dinaw Mengestu, George Packer, Esmeralda Santiago, and Neige Sinno, among many others, reflects this global scope.