Thurber Prize for American Humor to celebrate laughter in literature
Thurber Prize for American Humor to celebrate laughter in literature
Belinda M. Paschal, Columbus DispatchTue, May 5, 2026 at 10:02 AM UTC
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Putting the “fun” in fundraiser, the 2026 Thurber Prize for American Humor Award Show is also a celebration of literature and laughter.
Set for May 7 in the Canzani Center at Columbus College of Art & Design, the evening will include a VIP reception before the award show, cocktails, music, and an afterparty.
The ceremony will honor Cartoon Art winner Emily Flake (announced before the show) and three writing finalists, culminating in the announcement of the winner of the Thurber Prize.
Flake’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, McSweeney's, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, and many other publications.
Three finalists are in the running to join past prizewinners such as Dave Barry, Trevor Noah, David Sedaris, and Jon Stewart, and the writers of “The Daily Show.”
In his memoir, “Feh,” Shalom Auslander details his attempt to escape the biblical teachings he’d been raised on and his struggle to write a new story for himself and his family.
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The Thurber Prize for American Humor Award Show will be held May 7 in the Canzani Center at Columbus College of Art & Design. The prize is named for Columbus-born author and humorist James Thurber.
Alison Espach tells the story of an unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her make a fresh start in “The Wedding People.”
Steven Rowley explores the complex bonds of family, love and self-rediscovery in “The Guncle Abroad,” his sequel to 2021’s “The Guncle,” winner of the 2023 Thurber Prize for American Humor in Writing.
Named for Columbus native, author and New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber, the prize has been presented for 25 years and is a vital fundraiser for Thurber House’s literary arts programming.
Details: Doors open at 5:45 p.m. May 7 for the VIP reception at 6 p.m., and at 6:30 p.m. for general admission to the awards show, which begins at 7:15 p.m. The afterparty will be at 9 p.m. General-admission tickets cost $60, VIP costs $125. (bit.ly/4ns2NBD)
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Thurber Prize for American Humor names 2026 finalists
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
