OnWord 2026
The American Writers Museum’s annual benefit, OnWord, will take place on September 29, 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTER
Peter Sagal
Host of NPR’s Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
BEYOND THE PAGE HONOREE
The Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan
THE FOUNDER’S INSPIRING WRITER AWARD
Jesmyn Ward
Two-time National Book Award Winner and author of Sing, Unburied, Sing, Salvage the Bones, and other titles
INSPIRATION AWARD
Presented by Celeste Ng
Award-winning author of Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and Our Missing Hearts
JOHN ESTEY STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION
Celebration of Winners