MacArthur Foundation names 20 fellows for 2026, each receiving $800,000
The MacArthur Foundation announced its 2026 class of 20 fellows across the arts, humanities and sciences. Each receives an $800,000 grant with no conditions attached.
Updated (version 2). Rewritten with the latest reporting.
1 / 1
The story, neutrally told
The MacArthur Foundation announced its 2026 fellows: 20 recipients across the arts, humanities and sciences. The New York TimesLC “The 20 fellowship recipients across the arts, humanities and sciences will each receive an $800,000, no-strings-attached stipend for their work.” Read at The New York Times ↗ NPR says each fellow receives $800,000 over five years, and that the awards are popularly known as "genius grants". NPRLC “This cohort of 20 academics and artists each receive $800,000 over five years, no strings attached.” Read at NPR ↗ NPRLC “popularly known as "genius grants."” Read at NPR ↗ According to NPR, the foundation's network of scouts selected the recipients. NPRLC “the 20 individuals whom the foundation's network of scouts selected as recipients of the prestigious fellowships” Read at NPR ↗
The class includes climate scientists such as Marika Holland, who studies polar sea ice, and Kaiyu Guan, who combines satellite data and machine learning in agriculture research. NPRLC “the climate scientist works to predict the complex interactions between polar sea ice and global climate dynamics”“brings together satellite data and machine learning to figure out how to boost food productivity” Read at NPR ↗ Forensic anthropologist Kate Spradley of Texas State University works to identify and return the remains of migrants who died along the Texas-Mexico border. NPRLC “works to identify and repatriate the remains of migrants who have perished along the Texas-Mexico border” Read at NPR ↗ NPR says her work, which began in 2013, has led to positive identifications of some 300 people and to an FBI policy change on DNA from Latin American families. NPRLC “The efforts of Spradley and her team have yielded positive identifications of some 300 individuals.”“the FBI has now changed its policy to include DNA from Latin American families in its federal database” Read at NPR ↗
Duke philosopher and cognitive scientist Felipe De Brigard leads a project in Colombia with victims of paramilitary and guerrilla violence. NPRLC “The team is exploring the memories of those living in the north of De Brigard's home country of Colombia” Read at NPR ↗ NPR's list also includes artists and writers such as Christine Sun Kim, Bryan Washington, Layli Long Soldier and Trajal Harrell. NPRLC “visual and sound artist Christine Sun Kim, philosopher and cognitive scientist Felipe De Brigard and novelist Bryan Washington” Read at NPR ↗ At 69, visual artist Chip Thomas is the oldest recipient this year, according to NPR. NPRLC “At 69, the visual artist, based in Flagstaff, Ariz., is the oldest MacArthur award recipient in 2026.” Read at NPR ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Celebratory, human-interest coverage of the fellows. One NPR piece profiles all 20 winners. Another uses Kate Spradley and Felipe De Brigard to show science applied to justice. The NYT headline and lede give a straightforward announcement.
- Emphasis
- Individual achievements, work on migrants, trauma, racial inequality and climate, and the diversity of disciplines.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No critical or outside perspective on the programme or its selection process. The coverage is entirely from left-leaning outlets, and the NYT text adds little beyond the headline and lede.
- Charged language
- “genius grants”“no-strings-attached”
- For example
-
“A historian who studies wage gaps between races and a saxophonist whose live performances include a chef are among the latest recipients” — NPR
“researchers who were recognized for their work at the intersection of science and justice” — NPR
“MacArthur Foundation Announces 2026 ‘Genius Grant’ Winners” — The New York Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The foundation named 20 fellows for 2026.
- Each fellowship is $800,000 with no strings attached.
- Recipients span the arts, humanities and sciences.
MacArthur Foundation organisation
Presented as awarding 20 fellowships of $800,000 with no conditions, chosen through a network of scouts.
“the 20 individuals whom the foundation's network of scouts selected as recipients of the prestigious fellowships” — NPR
Left3 articles
-
NPRLC ·
Meet the 20 scholars and artists who've just won MacArthur Fellowships
Celebratory A profile of all 20 winners, stressing the range of disciplines and shared themes of connection and healing.
-
MacArthur Foundation Announces 2026 ‘Genius Grant’ Winners
Neutral A straightforward announcement of the 20 winners and the $800,000 stipend.
-
NPRLC ·
This year's MacArthur Fellows include researchers who fuse science and justice
Sympathetic A narrative feature on Spradley's and De Brigard's work on migrants' remains and victims of violence, presented as science serving justice.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 29 Sep 17:01 First NPRLC Meet the 20 scholars and artists who've just won MacArthur Fellowships
- 29 Sep 17:01 First The New York TimesLC MacArthur Foundation Announces 2026 ‘Genius Grant’ Winners
- 29 Sep 17:03 +3m NPRLC This year's MacArthur Fellows include researchers who fuse science and justice
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.