TULSA, Okla. –Bette Midler has been selected to receive the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize. Organizers say Midler’s more than 50 years as an entertainer and advocate reflect the spirit and work of Woody Guthrie.
Why Bette Midler was selected
The Woody Guthrie Prize is awarded annually to an artist who best exemplifies Guthrie’s spirit by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change.
Midler has spent more than five decades as a singer, actress, author and producer. She is also recognized for advocacy involving environmental conservation, public spaces, LGBTQ+ rights, public health initiatives and humanitarian causes.
Tulsa award ceremony
The 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize event will take place Oct. 16 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. The fundraising evening will include remarks from Cady Shaw and members of the Guthrie family, the presentation of the award and a conversation between Midler and music journalist Rona Elliot.
The event will conclude with a solo acoustic performance by country artist Bryan Andrews.
Tickets for the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize event will go on sale exclusively to Woody Guthrie Center members on Aug. 28, 2026. Membership and ticket proceeds will help fund the center’s 2028 educational programming, public events, exhibitions and outreach.
Learn more and see past Woody Guthrie Prize winners at woodyguthriecenter.org/about/woody-guthrie-prize/
