Literary icon Salman Rushdie is set to receive the 2026 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the National Book Foundation. This prestigious lifetime achievement award will be presented at the 77th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. Bestselling author Kiran Desai, a longtime friend of Rushdie, will have the honor of presenting the medal.
Rushdie becomes the 39th recipient of this esteemed medal. A naturalized U.S. citizen since 2016, he has openly shared that this transition brought him a deeper sense of belonging to the country. He is also only the fourth foreign-born recipient of the award, following Saul Bellow, Isabel Allende, and Art Spiegelman. Reflecting on the recognition, Rushdie has wondered if it signifies he is now ‘out there in American literature,’ a sentiment reminiscent of Raymond Carver.
His literary work is widely recognized for its celebration of literature’s capacity to bridge cultures, generations, and identities. Through his narratives, Rushdie consistently explores the intricate connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern and Western civilizations. He has asserted that ‘American literature has always been immigrant’ and that American writers originate from diverse backgrounds.
The National Book Foundation acknowledges Rushdie’s remarkable five-decade literary career, which began with his first novel, Grimus, in 1975. His body of work encompasses notable novels such as the 1981 Booker Prize-winning Midnight’s Children, and his post-2022 attack memoir, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, published in 2024. Knife recounts his experiences following the August 2022 attack and was a finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction.
The National Book Foundation specifically highlights Rushdie as a ‘bold, innovative writer and an indefatigable defender of free speech.’ Throughout his career, he has advocated for free expression and supported imperiled writers, including through his past leadership as president of PEN America. The August 2022 attack on Rushdie tragically occurred as he was preparing to deliver a lecture on the United States as a sanctuary for exiled writers.