MacArthur Fellows 2026: three writers awarded 800k each

The MacArthur Foundation announced this year's fellowship class—20 people will receive 800k each with no conditions attached, paid over five years. Among the honorees are three literary writers: poet Layli Long Soldier (poetry on Native American history), writer Maaza Mengiste (prose on the costs of political violence), and a third author cited in the text. The grant is awarded for exceptional creativity and ability to have a positive impact on society.

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On Tuesday, the MacArthur Foundation announced its 2026 class of MacArthur Fellows : 20 individuals who demonstrate “exceptional creativity” and excellence in their fields, and “who demonstrate the ability to impact society in significant and beneficial ways through their pioneering work or the rigor of their contributions.”

These “genius grants” come with a a no-strings-attached award of $800,000, disbursed over five years. This year, in addition to historians, artists, scientists, anthropologists, and composers, three literary writers were recognized:

Layli Long Soldier

A poet “exploring ways to articulate Native American histories and celebrate enduring kinship, strength and creativity.”

Read the full citation here.

Maaza Mengiste

A fiction writer “revealing the human costs of political violence through a compelling blend of history, memory, and imagination.”

Read the full citation here.

Bryan Washington

A fiction writer “capturing the fragile beauty of modern relationships in stories shaped by place, memory, and rituals of daily care.”

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MacArthur Fellows 2026: three writers awarded 800k each

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