Pulitzer Prizes, American Library Association present new traveling exhibition

NEW YORK — The Pulitzer Prizes and American Library Association (ALA) today announced the national tour of Pulitzer on the Road: Prize-Winning Works That Inform, Empower & Inspire, a traveling exhibition that will visit 20 public libraries nationwide, with its debut slated for mid-October in Chicago and Dallas. 

Through vividly designed panels, immersive interactive stations and compelling storytelling, Pulitzer on the Road highlights the history and significance of the Pulitzer Prizes; connects new audiences with prize-winners and their work; and promotes the role of journalism, books, drama and music in a democratic society.   

"Pulitzer on the Road was created to bring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism and storytelling to communities across the country, showcasing the exceptional work that has been honored since the prizes were first awarded in 1917," said Marjorie Miller, administrator of The Pulitzer Prizes. "This exhibition and associated events will be free to attend and open to the public, so as many people as possible can experience firsthand the impact these stories have had. ALA is a terrific partner for this endeavor." 

Maria McCauley, president of the American Library Association, said public libraries are the perfect venue for this exhibition because they are "places where people congregate to learn, discover new perspectives and engage with ideas that shape our communities. By partnering with The Pulitzer Prizes to bring Pulitzer on the Road to libraries nationwide, we're creating opportunities for visitors to connect with the excellent prize-winning works that drive curiosity, conversation and civic engagement." 

The national tour will kick off in October at Chicago Public Library’s central branch location, Harold Washington Library Center, and the Dallas Public Library’s downtown location, the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, remaining on display in both cities until December. The public launch events at the libraries in Chicago on Oct. 14, and in Dallas on Oct. 24 will feature renowned Pulitzer Prize winners: authors Percival Everett (2025 Fiction winner), Daniel Kraus (2026 Fiction winner), Amanda Vaill (2026 Biography winner) and photojournalist Jon Cherry (2022 Breaking News Photography winner) in Chicago, and author Barbara Kingsolver (2023 Fiction winner) and composer Gabriela Frank (2026 Music winner) in Dallas.   

Selected from a highly competitive applicant pool, the 20 participating public libraries serve a diverse range of communities from across the U.S., from California to Georgia, Wisconsin to Puerto Rico. These libraries will host the 1,400-square-foot exhibition for approximately six weeks and receive cash grants to support public programming and activities. Pulitzer Prize winners, local media and other guests and organizations will participate in events throughout the tour. The exhibition and all associated events are free and open to the public. 

The selected libraries and corresponding exhibition periods are as follows: 

• Chicago Public Library, Chicago, Ill., October-December 2026 

• Dallas Public Library, Dallas, Texas, October-December 2026 

• Sevier County Public Library System, Sevierville, Tenn., Jan. 2027 

• Warren Public Library, Warren, Mich., Jan. 2027 

• San Jose Public Library, San Jose, Calif., March 2027 

• Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kan., March 2027 

• Waupaca Area Public Library, Waupaca, Wis., May 2027 

• Reading Public Library, Reading, Penn., May 2027 

• Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, N.Y., July 2027 

• Falmouth Public Library, Falmouth, Mass., July 2027 

• Clayton County Library System, Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 2027 

• Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 2027 

• Lexington Public Library, Lexington, Ky., Nov. 2027 

• Opelika Public Library, Opelika, Ala., Nov. 2027 

• Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 2028 

• St. Louis County Library, St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 2028 

• Laramie County Library System, Cheyenne, Wyo., March 2028 

• Rio Rancho Public Libraries, Rio Rancho, N.M., March 2028 

• Hillsboro Public Library, Hillsboro, Ore., May 2028 

• Biblioteca Municipal e Infantil Mariana Suárez de Longo, Ponce, Puerto Rico, May 2028 

View the full tour itinerary here. 

Highlights of the exhibition include Pulitzer Prize-winning works such as: 

• Iconic photographs from World War II and wars in Vietnam, Ukraine and the Middle East, and of figures such as American presidents and Olympic athletes 

• Reporting with national impact on public opinion and policy, such as the Watergate scandal, the Pentagon Papers, as well as from local newspapers across the country 

• Works of literature such as poetry by Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost; fiction by Toni Morrison and John Steinbeck; and drama by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Arthur Miller 

• Music winners such as Wynton Marsalis, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan 

• An interactive station where visitors can view examples of Pulitzer-winning journalism from local and regional media outlets from their home states 

The exhibition is organized into six sections: 

1. Introduction – An overview of Joseph Pulitzer and the evolution of the Pulitzer Prizes from 1917 to the present. 

1. Seeing America – Highlights Pulitzer Prize-winning photography, print journalism, literature, music and drama that reflect key moments in our nation’s story. 

1. Bearing Witness in the World – Focuses on international reporting and the role of journalists in documenting major events and conflicts around the world, highlighting the challenges journalists face covering these events to keep American audiences informed. 

1. Telling Stories – Explores the power of storytelling and how it helps people connect with important issues and the lives of others. This section also showcases the wide range of Pulitzer Prize categories and forms of storytelling such as audio reporting, editorial cartooning, music, books and drama. 

1. Making a Difference – Examines the impact of Pulitzer Prize-winning work, with a particular focus on local journalism, demonstrating how reporting can empower Americans by exposing abuses, protecting individuals or inspiring policy changes. It also highlights the global cultural impact of Pulitzer-recognized works. 

1. Who Tells These Stories – After a gallery wall of selected winners, visitors are encouraged to see themselves as future storytellers, prompting them to question how they can contribute meaningful work that informs, empowers and inspires.  

This exhibition is produced and fully funded by The Pulitzer Prizes and developed in partnership with the American Library Association. Exhibition development and design is by Quatrefoil Associates, an award-winning exhibition design firm based in Maryland. 

About The Pulitzer Prizes:

The Pulitzer Prizes are annual awards given for excellence in 23 categories across journalism, books, drama and music. Established in 1917 and administered at Columbia University, the prizes were endowed by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-American journalist and newspaper publisher, who also established a journalism school at Columbia upon his death. Finalists are proposed by juries in each category, with the winners selected by a 19-member board composed of leading journalists, news executives, academics and persons in the arts. 

About the American Library Association: 

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit ala.org.