OnWord 2026

The American Writers Museum's annual benefit, OnWord, moves to the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for an evening honoring writers and the institutions that support them. The program features special guest presenter Peter Sagal, host of NPR's *Wait, Wait… Don't Tell Me!*, along with awards to novelist Jesmyn Ward and the Helen Zell Writers' Program at the University of Michigan. Celeste Ng presents the Inspiration Award, and the evening also celebrates winners of the John Estey Student Writing Competition. This is the museum's primary fundraiser, so proceeds support its ongoing exhibitions and public programming.