Comedian and television host Bill Maher will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center on June 28, the center announced.
The presentation will take place in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall before the performing arts center closes for a two-year renovation. The institution has faced slumping ticket sales and performer cancellations amid President Donald Trump’s overhaul of the center, which included a controversial name change.
In a statement, Maher reacted with his signature wit.
“Thank you to the Mark Twain people: I just had the award explained to me, and apparently it’s like an Emmy, except I win,” he said, according to CNN. “I’d just like to say that it is indeed humbling to get anything named for a man who’s been thrown out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain.”
The 27th annual prize recognizes outstanding contributions to American humor. Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, highlighted Maher’s long influence.
“For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain Prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy,” Daravi said. “For even longer, Bill has been influencing American discourse – one politically incorrect joke at a time.”
Last week, after reports surfaced that Maher would be honored, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the claim was false.
“This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award,” Leavitt reportedly said.
Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” has been a frequent critic of Trump’s policies. The two men dined together at the White House in 2025, an event arranged by entertainer Kid Rock. Maher later praised Trump on his show, but their relationship has remained tense. In February 2026, Trump called the comedian a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” on his Truth Social platform.
Past recipients of the Mark Twain Prize include Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Billy Crystal, Jon Stewart, and Adam Sandler. The award gala typically draws comedians and entertainers for an evening of tributes.
