Archives for April 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two of Washington’s most trusted and tenacious journalists will be recognized at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25 at the Washington Hilton — a tribute to reporters who have spent years earning the respect of their peers, their sources, and the public they serve.

“Groundbreaking reporting about the first year of President Trump’s second term” describes the winners of this year’s journalism awards from the White House Correspondents’ Association — and no two names on that list are more synonymous with excellence, integrity, and sheer determination than Josh Dawsey and Kaitlan Collins.

Josh Dawsey, a beloved fixture of Washington political journalism and one of the most well-sourced reporters in the capital, will receive the Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage for his body of work at The Wall Street Journal during Trump’s second term. Dawsey’s reporting — meticulous, fearless, and relentlessly fair — has set the standard for what White House journalism looks like when it’s done right. In an era when access is weaponized and information is guarded, his ability to break through and deliver a thoughtful, inside perspective to readers is nothing short of remarkable.

Kaitlan Collins of CNN will receive the Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure — Broadcast — an honor she is well-suited to hold. Collins, who also anchors a nightly must-see newscast on CNN, is known for her command of the briefing room, her unflappable presence under fire, and her fierce commitment to asking tough questions, even when — especially when — the answers are unwelcome. In one of the most challenging environments for any journalist, she doesn’t blink.

Both journalists have worked through a period marked by extraordinary pressure on the press — a political climate in which reporters face public attacks, legal threats, and institutional headwinds that would give many pause. Dawsey and Collins have answered that pressure not with retreat, but with consistent, powerful reporting.

Other impressive journalists will be honored at the dinner: AP’s Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller, Getty Images’ Andrew Harnik, WSJ‘s Khadeeja Safdar, Joe Palazzolo, Sadie Gurman, Annie Linskey, Alex Leary, Rebecca Ballhaus, and C. Ryan Barber, KARE-11, and The New York Times‘ Tyler Pager. In a striking moment of recognition, the WHCA will present The Wall Street Journal with the Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability for its reporting on the infamous birthday letter bearing the president’s name that was reportedly given to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. The honor carries even greater weight following a federal judge’s decision earlier this month to toss President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Journal over that story — a legal ruling that underscores exactly why the Graham Award exists.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 26: (L-R) Joanna Coles, Meredith Whittaker, and David Urban attend the 32nd Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch at Beall-Washington House on April 26, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Haddad Media)

White House Correspondents’ Weekend brings together a cross-section of Washington from government, business, media, and celebrities to celebrate the Freedom of the Press. Of course, one party is not enough. And this year, Washington is once again doing what it does best: compressing an entire social season into one week.

Of course, you want to be in the room, because it’s where a lot of work happens. 

Some events are constant, such as the Annual Saturday Garden Brunch. 

But this year, newcomers are entering the mix! MSNOW breaks onto the scene with a splashy new After-Party hosted in the Dupont Underground, celebrated as “Democracy After Hours.” Puck News will be reimagining the crowded pre-parties with an ultra-exclusive toast ahead of the dinner at a nearby residence. Tech platform Grindr has become one of the hottest tickets in town with its Friday celebration. And the Irish Embassy will be kicking off the week with their newly minted party, “The Green Room.” 

Each day will have a number of events, and we have your definitive field guide to who’s hosting, where to be seen, and when to pace yourself.

Wednesday, April 22: The Soft Launch

The weekend starts with some tone-setting parties to get everyone warmed up. 

The Global Women’s Innovation Network (GlobalWIN) will host their annual “Preface” at a swanky private residence. Hosts include: Keenan Austin Reed, Alethia Jackson, Helen Milby, Tiffany Moore & Symone Sanders-Townsend. You can expect a special toast to Symone and Eugene Daniel’s new podcast. 

The Washington Association of Black Journalists hosts A Toast to Press Freedom at the National Association of Broadcasters.

Across town, Townhall Media gathers a more policy-focused crowd at Trump-world hot-spot, Butterworth’s, to talk AI, crypto, and the 2026 midterms.

Thursday, April 23: The Diplomatic Circuit (and a Few Power Plays)

Thursday is where things accelerate—and where embassies quietly compete for best-in-show.

The Irish Embassy will play host to a newly re-imagined party: “The Green Room.” One of Washington’s favorite Ambassadors, Geraldine Byrne Nason, will join John McCarthy and Stripe’s Eileen O’Mara for this new “fáilte” or “Welcome” to the weekend. 

To celebrate America’s 250th, YouTube has paired up with Meridian International Center, and C-SPAN to lean into history with Diplomacy at 250.

The International Women’s Media Foundation teams up with the Swedish Embassy for Courageous Voices in Journalism. 

NBCUniversal and Comcast convene Common Ground at the beautiful new Washington staple: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center.

The annual Washington Women in Journalism Awards will take place at Larz Anderson House, hosted by Gloria Dittus and Washingtonian’s Cathy Merrill. 

The international journalist crowd will gather as the European Union hosts Off the Record at its residence—a magnet for Hill staffers and foreign policy regulars.

Oliver Darcy’s Status Party will once again convene some of the favorite names behind the headlines. 

Friday, April 24: Hollywood comes to the Potomac

Friday is when the pace of Hollywood descending on D.C. really starts to pick up! 

It starts early with the Axios brunch circuit, alongside gatherings from Punchbowl News and MS Now. Pro-Tip: Carb-loading is highly encouraged here. The weekend hasn’t even really begun yet. 

As we head to the afternoon, Meghan McCain, Jessica Reed Kraus, and Vanessa Santos will be hosting cocktails for Renegade Women at the Graham Rooftop. Beehiiv and Shinola will lean into a “celebration of journalism” moment at their Logan Circle space. YouTube hosts some of its top creators at Florería Atlántico. 

And that’s just happy hour.

That evening, Kevin Sheekey and Bloomberg will once again convene their highly coveted dinner to set the tone for the remainder of the weekend with some of the preeminent names in Business, Government Diplomacy, and Media. 

And some of the toughest invites to receive are for the talent agencies that join us in Washington from Hollywood. 

This year, the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will be co-hosting the Vanity Fair Party at the Belgian Ambassador’s Residence. A new combination that has created a lot of excitement in Washington. 

United Talent Agency will celebrate with its annual late-night party, this year held at Georgetown’s Osteria Mozza. 

Other late-night stops include: Semafor’s house party for media insiders, Motion Picture Association salute to America250, the Australian Embassy’s Celebration alongside DC Modern Luxury Magazine, and The British Ambassador’s reception with Daily Mail. 

Saturday, April 25: The Main Event Orbit

Saturday belongs to tradition, with Tammy Haddad’s garden brunch at the Beall-Washington House kicking things off—a longstanding cornerstone of the weekend. Co-Hosts include Kevin Sheekey, Mark and Sally Ein, David Urban, Franco Nuschese, and Jon Banner. Honorees remain under wraps, but you can count on honoring veterans and military families will remain at the heart of the celebration. 

After Brunch, guests head home to don their tuxedos and prepare for the evening. 

At the Hotel itself, you can expect pre-parties with ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CBS News, and Politico, all of which host pre-dinner receptions in overlapping waves.

Breaking into the scene this year is Puck, with Editor Jon Kelly hosting an exclusive pre-party near the Washington Hilton, reimagining the Pre-party experience. 

After the Dinner, you can expect: NBC News at the French Ambassador’s residence and the Swiss Ambassador’s gathering with TIME. 

But the hottest new ticket this year is MS Now’s late-night play at Dupont Underground. You can expect a lot of surprise elements throughout the late-night gathering.

Sunday, April 26: The Wind-Down (Sort Of)

Sunday offers a softer landing, though “soft” is relative.

Allbritton Journalism Institute and Politico host a brunch at Robert Allbritton’s home, while CNN closes things out with a final reception at the British Embassy – and what an exciting day to be there, a day before the arrival of the King!

This year, DC’s Members-only Hot-spot, Ned’s Club, will partner up with AirMail and 101 Studios– the studio behind the hit TV show “Yellowstone.” If you’re still standing, this will be a party to be at!

The Takeaway

What used to be a dinner is now an ecosystem of media, politics, tech, and diplomacy, each staking a claim on the same few square miles of Washington. All of this is done to strengthen the relationships amongst the correspondents themselves and the people who are covered. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two of the best political reporters will be presented with awards at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25 at the Washington Hilton — Josh Dawsey (WSJ) & Kaitlan Collins (CNN). “Groundbreaking reporting about the first year of President Trump’s second term” is the theme of the winners of this year’s journalism awards from the White House Correspondents’ Association.

Also at the dinner, two independently administered awards will be presented, one for reporting that revealed Medicaid fraud in Minnesota; the other a series of stories by the New York Times.

Here is the full list of the WHCA award winners. 

Politico wrote it all up this way: “AND THE AWARD GOES TO: The White House Correspondents’ Association announced its 2026 award winners, with the prize for overall excellence in White House coverage going to WSJ’s Josh Dawsey. Other winners include AP’s Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Getty Images’ Andrew Harnik, WSJ’s Khadeerza Safdar, Joe Palazzolo, Sadie Gurman, Annie Linskey, Alex Leary, Rebecca Ballhaus and C. Ryan Barber, KARE-11 and NYT’s Tyler Pager.”