05/17/2026
Cultural icon Patti Smith will receive the 2026 Harold Washington Literary Award ✨
The prestigious award honors the legacy of Harold Washington, a champion of the arts whose vision embraced the diversity of the American experience and recognizes distinguished literary achievement, artistic excellence, and a commitment to the written word.
Author, poet, songwriter, and visual artist, Patti Smith has long been one of the most influential cultural voices of her generation. “Patti Smith is unparalleled in her ability to create deeply literary work across mediums,” said Anne K. Ream, co-chair of the HWLA Selection Committee. “Her writing is marked by moral clarity, artistic rigor, and deep empathy. She exemplifies the spirit of the Harold Washington Literary Award.”
Hosted by the Near South Planning Board, the ticketed Harold Washington Literary Award ceremony and dinner on Sept. 10 will serve as the official kickoff to Printers Row Lit Fest weekend, one of the country’s largest free literary festivals and a celebrated gathering of book lovers from across the nation. 📚
Since 1989, the award has honored literary legends including Sandra Cisneros, Ray Bradbury, Gwendolyn Brooks, Saul Bellow, Kurt Vonnegut, and Studs Terkel.
For tickets and more details about the Sept. 10 ceremony and dinner: https://thenspb.org/our-events/harold-washington-literary-award-dinner/
