Earlier this year, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Programs Office announced a new addition to its extensive portfolio of traveling library exhibits, which has included more than 30 projects since the 1990s. Building on collaborations with prominent partners—including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Endowment for the Humanities—“Pulitzer On The Road: Prize-Winning Works that Inform, Empower & Inspire” is the latest traveling exhibition to join the list.
When applications for this opportunity closed at the end of March 2026, a large and highly competitive pool of public libraries from across the country applied for the 1,400 square-foot exhibition. Through vividly designed panels, immersive interactive stations, and compelling storytelling, highlights of the exhibition include Pulitzer Prize-winning works such as:
- Iconic photographs from World War II and wars in Vietnam, Ukraine, and the Middle East, and of figures such as American presidents and Olympic athletes.
- Reporting with national impact on public opinion and policy, such as the Watergate scandal, the Pentagon Papers, as well as from local newspapers across the country.
- Works of literature such as poetry by Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost; fiction by Toni Morrison and John Steinbeck; and drama by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Arthur Miller.
- Music winners such as Wynton Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan.
- An interactive station where visitors can view examples of Pulitzer-winning journalism from local and regional media outlets from their home states.
Twenty libraries selected
Today, ALA and The Pulitzer Prizes announced the 20 libraries selected to host the traveling exhibition for a six-week period and receive cash grants to support public programming and activities. Pulitzer Prize winners, local media, and other guests and organizations will participate in events throughout the tour.
The public libraries serve a diverse range of communities across the U.S., from California to Georgia, and from Wisconsin to Puerto Rico.
The exhibition and all associated events are free and open to the public.
ALA President Maria McCauley said public libraries are the perfect venue for this exhibition because they are “places where people congregate to learn, discover new perspectives, and engage with ideas that shape our communities. By partnering with The Pulitzer Prizes to bring Pulitzer on the Road to libraries nationwide, we’re creating opportunities for visitors to connect with the excellent prize-winning works that drive curiosity, conversation, and civic engagement.”
Opening events
The national tour will kick off in October at Chicago Public Library’s central branch location, the Harold Washington Library Center, and Dallas Public Library’s downtown location, the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, remaining on display in both cities until December.
The public launch events at the libraries in Chicago and Dallas will feature renowned Pulitzer Prize winners: authors Percival Everett (2025 Fiction winner), Daniel Kraus (2026 Fiction winner), Amanda Vaill (2026 Biography winner) and photojournalist Jon Cherry (2022 Breaking News Photography winner) in Chicago, and author Barbara Kingsolver (2023 Fiction winner) and composer Gabriela Frank (2026 Music winner) in Dallas.
Tour itinerary
- Chicago Public Library. October-December 2026
- Dallas Public Library. October-December 2026
- Sevier County (Tenn.) Public Library System. January 2027
- Warren (Mich.) Public Library. January 2027
- San Jose (Calif.) Public Library. March 2027
- Winfield (Kan.) Public Library. March 2027
- Waupaca (Wis.) Area Public Library. May 2027
- Reading (Penn.) Public Library. May 2027
- Buffalo & Erie County (N.Y.) Public Library. July 2027
- Falmouth (Mass.) Public Library. July 2027
- Clayton County (Ga.) Library System. September 2027
- Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library. September 2027
- Lexington (Ky.) Public Library. November 2027
- Opelika (Ala.) Public Library. November 2027
- Charlotte Mecklenburg (N.C.) Library. January 2028
- St. Louis (Mo.) County Library. January 2028
- Laramie County (Wyo.) Library System. March 2028
- Rio Rancho (N.M.) Public Libraries. March 2028
- Hillsboro (Ore.) Public Library. May 2028
- Biblioteca Municipal e Infantil Mariana Suárez de Longo, Ponce, Puerto Rico. May 2028
This exhibition is produced and fully funded by The Pulitzer Prizes and developed in partnership with ALA. Exhibition development and design is by Quatrefoil Associates, an award-winning exhibition design firm based in Maryland.
View the full tour itinerary here.
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Feature image: Sergey Ponomarev, The New York Times, 2016 Breaking News Photography. Courtesy of The New York Times via The Pulitzer Prizes
