Description
National Endowment for the Arts will honor the 2026 National Heritage Fellows at an awards ceremony, which will include presentation of medals, remarks by the recipients, and short musical performances by several of the honorees. This event is hosted by the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.
The 2026 National Heritage Fellows are:
Juan Díes and Victor G. Pichardo, Mexican Folk Musicians (Chicago, Illinois)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/juan-dies-victor-g-pichardo
Belen Escobedo, Conjunto Tejano Fiddler (San Antonio, Texas)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/belen-escobedo
Giovanni Hidalgo, Latin Percussionist (Ocoee, Florida)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/giovanni-hidalgo
Gerry Milnes, Folklorist & Documentarian (Elkins, West Virginia)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/gerry-milnes
Patrick Olwell, Flutemaker (Athens, Georgia, and Nellysford, Virginia)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/patrick-olwell
Frank Rabon, CHamoru Dancer & Choreographer (Hagåtña, Guam)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/frank-rabon
Cary Schwarz, Saddlemaker & Leather Artist (Salmon, Idaho)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/cary-schwarz
Lloyd Harold Kumulā'au Sing, Jr. and May Haunani Balino-Sing, Hawaiian Twined Basketry Artists (Wahiawā, Hawai'i)
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/lloyd-harold-kumulaau-sing-jr-may-haunani-balino-sing
The National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowships is the nation's highest honor in folk and traditional arts. Each year since 1982, the program recognizes recipients' artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage.
Including the 2026 class, the Arts Endowment has awarded 502 National Heritage Fellowships, recognizing artists working in more than 200 distinct art forms.
https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/list
For transcript and more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/item/video-13046/