Free Expression Awards

2026 Free Expression Awards

Celebrating Champions of Free Expression

2026 Free Expression Awards

June 25, 2026

The Anthem | Washington, D.C.

Join us June 25, 2026, in Washington, D.C., as we celebrate 10 years of honoring champions of free expression.

This year’s honorees include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, the Committee for the First Amendment and the recipient of the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer.

From left: 2025 Free Expression Awards honorees Sharon McMahon, “America’s Government Teacher,” author and founder of “The Preamble” newsletter, Floyd Abrams, legendary First Amendment lawyer and W. Kamau Bell, award-winning TV host, comedian and filmmaker.
From left: 2025 Free Expression Awards honorees Sharon McMahon, “America’s Government Teacher,” author and founder of “The Preamble” newsletter, Floyd Abrams, legendary First Amendment lawyer and W. Kamau Bell, award-winning TV host, comedian and filmmaker.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. performs at the 2025 Free Expression Awards.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. performs at the 2025 Free Expression Awards.
Public theologian and civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is honored at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Public theologian and civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is honored at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Guests socialize and enjoy dessert at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Guests socialize and enjoy dessert at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has long used his prominent position to fight for what he believes, is honored at the 2017 Free Expression Awards.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has long used his prominent position to fight for what he believes, is honored at the 2017 Free Expression Awards.
Grace Gibson-Snyder (pictured on-screen) and Claire Vlases, 2024 honorees representing the Montana youth climate advocates, discuss their work with host Laura Barrón-López.
Grace Gibson-Snyder (pictured on-screen) and Claire Vlases, 2024 honorees representing the Montana youth climate advocates, discuss their work with host Laura Barrón-López.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, honored for her barrier-breaking work, addresses the audience at the 2019 Free Expression Awards.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, honored for her barrier-breaking work, addresses the audience at the 2019 Free Expression Awards.
2024 Free Expression Awards honoree Eric Church has used his First Amendment freedoms to address complex topics through his music.
2024 Free Expression Awards honoree Eric Church has used his First Amendment freedoms to address complex topics through his music.
The Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University performs at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
The Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University performs at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
The cast of “Queer Eye,” the hit Netflix reality series, were honored in 2019 for using the powers of free expression to change the world, one makeover at a time. From left: Tan France, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness (castmate Karamo Brown not pictured).
The cast of “Queer Eye,” the hit Netflix reality series, were honored in 2019 for using the powers of free expression to change the world, one makeover at a time. From left: Tan France, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness (castmate Karamo Brown not pictured).
The 2019 Free Expression Awards recognized individuals for their courageous acts of, and contributions to, free and fearless expression.
The 2019 Free Expression Awards recognized individuals for their courageous acts of, and contributions to, free and fearless expression.
PBS News senior correspondent Judy Woodruff, part of the first all-female news anchor team in television history, is honored at the 2019 Free Expression Awards for her groundbreaking 40-year career in broadcast journalism.
PBS News senior correspondent Judy Woodruff, part of the first all-female news anchor team in television history, is honored at the 2019 Free Expression Awards for her groundbreaking 40-year career in broadcast journalism.

The Free Expression Awards is an annual event that honors the achievements of those who have championed or celebrated free expression and the First Amendment in ways that have inspired others.

Past Honorees

Questions? Contact [email protected].

To support the Free Expression Awards, contact Joe Riffe at 202/292-6581, or [email protected].

From left: 2025 Free Expression Awards honorees Sharon McMahon, “America’s Government Teacher,” author and founder of “The Preamble” newsletter, Floyd Abrams, legendary First Amendment lawyer and W. Kamau Bell, award-winning TV host, comedian and filmmaker.
From left: 2025 Free Expression Awards honorees Sharon McMahon, “America’s Government Teacher,” author and founder of “The Preamble” newsletter, Floyd Abrams, legendary First Amendment lawyer and W. Kamau Bell, award-winning TV host, comedian and filmmaker.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. performs at the 2025 Free Expression Awards.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. performs at the 2025 Free Expression Awards.
Public theologian and civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is honored at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Public theologian and civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is honored at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Guests socialize and enjoy dessert at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Guests socialize and enjoy dessert at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has long used his prominent position to fight for what he believes, is honored at the 2017 Free Expression Awards.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has long used his prominent position to fight for what he believes, is honored at the 2017 Free Expression Awards.
Grace Gibson-Snyder (pictured on-screen) and Claire Vlases, 2024 honorees representing the Montana youth climate advocates, discuss their work with host Laura Barrón-López.
Grace Gibson-Snyder (pictured on-screen) and Claire Vlases, 2024 honorees representing the Montana youth climate advocates, discuss their work with host Laura Barrón-López.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, honored for her barrier-breaking work, addresses the audience at the 2019 Free Expression Awards.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay, honored for her barrier-breaking work, addresses the audience at the 2019 Free Expression Awards.
2024 Free Expression Awards honoree Eric Church has used his First Amendment freedoms to address complex topics through his music.
2024 Free Expression Awards honoree Eric Church has used his First Amendment freedoms to address complex topics through his music.
The Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University performs at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
The Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University performs at the 2024 Free Expression Awards.
The cast of “Queer Eye,” the hit Netflix reality series, were honored in 2019 for using the powers of free expression to change the world, one makeover at a time. From left: Tan France, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness (castmate Karamo Brown not pictured).
The cast of “Queer Eye,” the hit Netflix reality series, were honored in 2019 for using the powers of free expression to change the world, one makeover at a time. From left: Tan France, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness (castmate Karamo Brown not pictured).
The 2019 Free Expression Awards recognized individuals for their courageous acts of, and contributions to, free and fearless expression.
The 2019 Free Expression Awards recognized individuals for their courageous acts of, and contributions to, free and fearless expression.
PBS News senior correspondent Judy Woodruff, part of the first all-female news anchor team in television history, is honored at the 2019 Free Expression Awards for her groundbreaking 40-year career in broadcast journalism.
PBS News senior correspondent Judy Woodruff, part of the first all-female news anchor team in television history, is honored at the 2019 Free Expression Awards for her groundbreaking 40-year career in broadcast journalism.

The Free Expression Awards is an annual event that honors the achievements of those who have championed or celebrated free expression and the First Amendment in ways that have inspired others.

Past Honorees

Questions? Contact [email protected].

To support the Free Expression Awards, contact Joe Riffe at 202/292-6581, or [email protected].

Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all.