The PEN/Faulkner Award Celebration
Every year, we gather to celebrate our PEN/Faulkner Award winner and four finalists. Each celebration is an event to remember, a fabulous opportunity for contemporary fiction readers, writers, and enthusiasts to come together in recognition of distinguished people who make up the current literary landscape.
In 2020, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, the PEN/Faulkner Foundation created a new literary distinction: the PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion. This commendation is presented in recognition of devoted literary advocacy and a commitment to inspiring new generations of readers and writers. The distinction is presented annually in May as part of the PEN/Faulkner Award Celebration.
2025 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD CELEBRATION
On May 15, 2025, we cherished a very special literary evening at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. We honored Garth Greenwell, the 2025 PEN/Faulkner Award winner, along with finalists ‘Pemi Aguda, Susan Muaddi Darraj, Percival Everett, and Danzy Senna. We also recognized Dr. Carla Hayden as the 2025 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion.
The evening featured guest appearances from Ron Charles and Jason Reynolds, cocktails and light refreshments on the patio, and a seated dinner with decadent dessert bar.
The 2024 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD CELEBRATION
On May 2, 2024, we hosted our annual celebration at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in Washington, DC. We honored winner Claire Jiménez, finalists Jamel Brinkley, Henry Hoke, Alice McDermott and Colin Winnette; as well as David Baldacci, our 2024 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion.
Ron Charles, book critic for The Washington Post, joined us as the Master of Ceremonies and novelist Sarah Pekkanen was a featured speaker. The library, with its outdoor patio, was the perfect setting for cocktails before the ceremony, and a buffet dinner after.
2023 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD CELEBRATION
On May 11, 2023, we held an exquisite literary evening at the newly renovated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. We celebrated Yiyun Li, the 2023 PEN/Faulkner Award winner, along with the finalists Jonathan Escoffery, Kathryn Harlan, Dionne Irving, and Laura Warrell. We also recognized Terry Gross as the 2023 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion.
The evening featured guest appearances from Ron Charles and Michel Martin, a cocktail hour, and a delicious dinner with a dessert bar.
2022 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD CELEBRATION
On May 2, 2022, we hosted a virtual celebration. It included presentations from by our judges; original readings by the 2022 PEN/Faulkner Award winner, Rabih Alameddine, and four finalists, Nawaaz Ahmed, Carolina de Robertis, Carolyn Ferrell, and Imbolo Mbue; and an appearance by Oprah Winfrey, our 2022 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion.
Maureen Corrigan, book critic for NPR’s Fresh Air, joined us as the Master of Ceremonies.
2021 PEN/FAULKNER AWARD CELEBRATION
The 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award Celebration was held on May 10, 2021, and honored that year’s distinguished books and authors. Among them were Deesha Philyaw, the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award winner, and four finalists, Matthew Salesses, Rufi Thorpe, Robin Wasserman, and Steve Wiegenstein. The evening also included a presentation by our inaugural PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion, LeVar Burton.
Special guests Stephen King, Francine Prose, Luis Alberto Urrea, Angie Thomas, and Jason Reynolds, among others, joined the 2021 virtual celebration.
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