AG to Honor Everett, Hayden, Tan

The Authors Guild Foundation has announced that it will honor Percival Everett, Carla Hayden, and Amy Tan at its annual gala on April 20, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Everett will receive the Baldacci Award for Literary Activism, which recognizes writers who “harness the power of storytelling to drive social change,” according to the organization. Hayden, former librarian of Congress, will receive the Champion of Writers Award for her “dedication and steadfast support of the literary community,” while Tan will be honored with the Preston Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community in recognition of her four decades of “transformative contributions to literature and advocacy for creative expression,” per a statement.

“In an era when access to books and truth in storytelling are under threat, Percival Everett, Amy Tan, and Dr. Carla Hayden represent different fronts in the same battle,” Deborah K. Wilson, executive director of the Authors Guild Foundation, said. “They remind us that defending writers, readers, and the freedom to write is essential to ensuring that diverse voices and ideas endure for generations.”

Past honorees of the Authors Guild Foundation Gala include Margaret Atwood, Robert A. Caro, Salman Rushdie, Louise Erdrich, and Jesmyn Ward, among others. Tickets to the gala will go on sale in February 2026, with proceeds supporting the Foundation’s advocacy, legal, and educational programs.