PEN America Festival Returns After Gaza War Controversy

PEN America's World Voices festival is slated to return from April 29 to May 2, 2026, with events planned in both New York and Los Angeles. This iteration will feature writers from more than 140 countries, including notable figures like Judith Butler and Bill McKibben. The festival's return follows its cancellation in 2024, a decision made after numerous authors withdrew their participation. This withdrawal stemmed from PEN America's perceived failure to adequately condemn the war in Gaza, with critics asserting the organization had betrayed its commitment to peace.

The organization has stated the 2026 festival is a "testament to literature's ability to unite us" and a response to prevailing closed-mindedness. Festival director Sabir Sultan described the event as an "act of jubilant defiance," emphasizing literature's power to connect humanity through imagination. This year's event draws parallels to the festival's founding in 2004, which emerged in response to the post-9/11 era and the Iraq War, aiming to counter cultural isolationism.

In addition to author talks and panel discussions, the 2026 festival will include public activations in New York. These will feature the 10th annual Indie Lit Fair in Washington Square and a public mural installation by Afghan artist collective ArtLords in Union Square, alongside an installation by the anti-censorship collective Unbannable Library. The festival will commence with an opening event titled "Attacks on Democracy: The Plot Against America."