Doris Duke Foundation Reveals 2026 Artist Awards and New Grants
The Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) announced the six recipients of the 2026 Doris Duke Artist Awards — the nation's largest prize dedicated to individual performing artists.
Doris Duke Artist Awards (Theatre)
Doris Duke Foundation
$525,000 unrestricted ($500,000 + $25,000 retirement-savings incentive)
Program details
- Organization
- Doris Duke Foundation
- Category
- Multi-Discipline
- Disciplines
- Multi-Discipline
- Format
- Cash fellowship
- Career stage
- Mid-career
- Location
- New York (national), NY
- Duration
- Funds distributed over up to 7 years
- Stipend / award
- $525,000 unrestricted ($500,000 + $25,000 retirement-savings incentive)
- Typical deadline
- Unknown (no open application)
Overview
The Doris Duke Artist Awards, established in 2012, recognize individual performing artists in theater, dance and jazz with a large unrestricted cash prize plus professional support such as financial planning, career development and networking opportunities; the foundation doubled the award amount in 2023. Recipients are selected through a nomination process rather than an open application. The 2026 theater honorees were Aleshea Harris and Yara Travieso, joining past theater recipients such as Lynn Nottage, Taylor Mac and Basil Twist.
Eligibility
By nomination/selection only; no open application. Artists with sustained bodies of work in theatre, contemporary dance, or jazz.
Notes
2026 theatre recipients: Aleshea Harris and Yara Travieso. Largest US cash prize for individual performing artists.
Contact
- arts@dorisduke.org (Department)
- Contact page
- https://www.dorisduke.org/contact
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