MESSAGE From WHCA President CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang to association members:

“The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has served as a celebration of a free press and the vital role of journalism in our democracy for over a century. When gunfire interrupted this year’s event, it further clarified the WHCA’s mission to advocate for the freedoms that are protected in the First Amendment. We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word, especially during a year when we are reflecting on the 250th anniversary of America and everything we stand for.

I am proud to announce we will host another dinner to be held in Washington, D.C. on Friday, July 24th.

Rescheduling was not automatic. It was a choice that the WHCA board made after thoughtful consideration and input from our members. I want to thank board members for the time and care they brought to this decision, particularly on the security front. The event will feature significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures. We will share additional details directly with attendees.”

Our thoughts remain with the officer who was injured and with everyone who experienced that evening. We are indebted to the US Secret Service, law enforcement and the hotel staff whose swift response protected our guests and our staff.

In the weeks since the last dinner, we have raised funds to ensure WHCA members who purchased tickets will not have to pay if they attend the second event, which will be a more intimate gathering. We will also offer financial support to our scholarship winners for travel back to Washington. They, along with our journalism award winners, deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to reporting.”

A co-founder who helped build the infrastructure on which the AI revolution runs. A pair of senators who chose collaboration over partisanship when the stakes couldn’t be higher. An entrepreneur who turned his television stardom into a platform for AI advocacy. A commanding general preparing the United States Army for an AI-driven battlefield. A scientist who is making history at one of America’s great national laboratories. And a civic leader who has spent her career making sure these innovations serve everyone. 

On June 3, 2026, the Washington AI Network (WAIN) will honor these extraordinary individuals at the second annual AI Honors Gala, Washington’s only black-tie evening dedicated to American AI excellence at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC. ““The AI Honors bring together the business, policy, and scientific leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence at the very moment its impact on our economy, security, and daily lives is becoming impossible to ignore,” said Tammy Haddad, the founder of the Washington AI Network.

The honorees include: 

AI GLOBAL AMBASSADOR AWARD

Kevin O’Leary

Known to millions as Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary has put his money — and his megaphone — behind the AI revolution. Honored for his investments in AI implementation, data centers, and the convergence of AI with blockchain and digital payments, O’Leary has also become one of the most visible advocates for AI literacy as the foundation of future job security.

BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP ON AI AWARD

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) & Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)

In a city often defined by division, Senators Warner and Rounds have chosen a different path. Recognized for their sustained, bipartisan leadership in advancing thoughtful AI policy, the two senators have worked across the aisle at a moment of enormous consequence for America’s national security and economic future.

FOUNDER’S EDUCATION ACCELERATOR AWARD

Chris Malachowsky, Co-Founder and Fellow, NVIDIA

NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky was there at the beginning — helping create the computing architecture that now powers the world’s most advanced AI systems. His landmark investment in AI education at the University of Florida ensures that the next generation won’t just use that infrastructure. They’ll build what comes next.

AI LEADERSHIP IN NATIONAL DEFENSE AWARD

Major General Patrick J. Ellis, Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson

Major General Patrick J. Ellis has been at the forefront of preparing the United States Army for an increasingly AI-driven world. Honored for his visionary leadership at the intersection of artificial intelligence, operational readiness, and national defense, General Ellis represents a new generation of military leaders who understand that technological advantage and human excellence are inseparable. The award will be presented by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

PUBLIC SCIENCE AWARD

Dr. Katherine (Kathy) Yelick, Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Dr. Katherine Yelick has spent her career pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing and machine learning. Her historic appointment as the first computer scientist to lead Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in its 90-year history represents a turning point, a powerful signal that AI is no longer simply a tool of science, but central to how science itself gets done.

CIVIC TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Michele Jawando, CEO, Omidyar Network

Michele Jawando has spent her career at the intersection of technology, policy and civic engagement with a singular focus: making sure that innovation serves everyone. As CEO of Omidyar Network, she brings that vision to one of the world’s most influential impact-driven organizations.

The 2026 AI Honors builds on the success of last year’s sold-out inaugural gala, which brought together voices from Congress, U.S. national security, scientific institutions, the Vatican, and industry. Year two deepens that commitment: to convene the key leaders across party lines, sectors, and disciplines, at the moment AI’s consequences are impossible to ignore.

2026 GALA SPONSORS

Americans for Prosperity, Anthropic, Amazon, Bloomberg, Booking Holdings, Build American AI, Capital Power, Cohere, Constellation Energy, Flex Association, General Catalyst Institute, General Motors, GlobalWIN, IBM, JPMorganChase, LinkedIn, Microsoft, NobleReach Foundation, NVIDIA, Public Private Strategies Institute, Qualcomm, Salesforce, Scale AI, Silverado Policy Accelerator, Special Competitive Studies Project, TikTok, and Uber.

Honorees announced for 2026 AI Honors Gala

A co-founder who helped build the infrastructure on which the AI revolution runs. A pair of senators who chose collaboration over partisanship when the stakes couldn’t be higher. An entrepreneur who turned his television stardom into a platform for AI advocacy. A commanding general preparing the United States Army for an AI-driven battlefield. A scientist who is making history at one of America’s great national laboratories. And a civic leader who has spent her career making sure these innovations serve everyone. 

On June 3, 2026, the Washington AI Network (WAIN) will honor these extraordinary individuals at the second annual AI Honors Gala, Washington’s only black-tie evening dedicated to American AI excellence at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC. In an exclusive interview with Deadline, ““The AI Honors bring together the business, policy, and scientific leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence at the very moment its impact on our economy, security, and daily lives is becoming impossible to ignore.” The honorees include: 

AI GLOBAL AMBASSADOR AWARD

Kevin O’Leary

Known to millions as Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary has put his money — and his megaphone — behind the AI revolution. Honored for his investments in AI implementation, data centers, and the convergence of AI with blockchain and digital payments, O’Leary has also become one of the most visible advocates for AI literacy as the foundation of future job security.

BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP ON AI AWARD

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) & Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)

In a city often defined by division, Senators Warner and Rounds have chosen a different path. Recognized for their sustained, bipartisan leadership in advancing thoughtful AI policy, the two senators have worked across the aisle at a moment of enormous consequence for America’s national security and economic future.

FOUNDER’S EDUCATION ACCELERATOR AWARD

Chris Malachowsky, Co-Founder and Fellow, NVIDIA

NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky was there at the beginning — helping create the computing architecture that now powers the world’s most advanced AI systems. His landmark investment in AI education at the University of Florida ensures that the next generation won’t just use that infrastructure. They’ll build what comes next.

AI LEADERSHIP IN NATIONAL DEFENSE AWARD

Major General Patrick J. Ellis

Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson

Major General Patrick J. Ellis has been at the forefront of preparing the United States Army for an increasingly AI-driven world. Honored for his visionary leadership at the intersection of artificial intelligence, operational readiness, and national defense, General Ellis represents a new generation of military leaders who understand that technological advantage and human excellence are inseparable. The award will be presented by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

PUBLIC SCIENCE AWARD

Dr. Katherine (Kathy) Yelick, Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Dr. Katherine Yelick has spent her career pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing and machine learning. Her historic appointment as the first computer scientist to lead Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in its 90-year history represents a turning point, a powerful signal that AI is no longer simply a tool of science, but central to how science itself gets done.

CIVIC TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Michele Jawando, CEO, Omidyar Network

Michele Jawando has spent her career at the intersection of technology, policy and civic engagement with a singular focus: making sure that innovation serves everyone. As CEO of Omidyar Network, she brings that vision to one of the world’s most influential impact-driven organizations.

Together, this year’s honorees represent the full arc of what AI leadership looks like in 2026. As Tammy Haddad, founder of WAIN said, “The AI Honors bring together the business, policy, and scientific leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence at the very moment its impact on our economy, security, and daily lives is becoming impossible to ignore.”

The 2026 AI Honors builds on the success of last year’s sold-out inaugural gala, which brought together voices from Congress, U.S. national security, scientific institutions, the Vatican, and industry. Year two deepens that commitment: to convene the key leaders across party lines, sectors, and disciplines, at the moment AI’s consequences are impossible to ignore.

2026 GALA SPONSORS

——————

Americans for Prosperity, Anthropic, Amazon, Bloomberg, Booking Holdings, Build American AI, Capital Power, Cohere, Constellation Energy, Flex Association, General Catalyst Institute, General Motors, GlobalWIN, IBM, JPMorganChase, LinkedIn, Microsoft, NobleReach Foundation, NVIDIA, Public Private Strategies Institute, Qualcomm, Salesforce, Scale AI, Silverado Policy Accelerator, Special Competitive Studies Project, TikTok, and Uber.

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond chatbots and into systems capable of taking action — and according to NVIDIA engineers Nader Khalil and Carter Abdallah, that shift is happening faster than most people realize.

During the 75th episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast hosted by Tammy Haddad, Khalil and Abdallah explored the rapid evolution of AI agents, the importance of open-source models, and how everyday users can better understand the technology shaping the future.

The conversation, recorded live at PubKeyDC, brought together two engineers who helped build Brev, the developer platform acquired by NVIDIA in July 2024. Khalil co-founded the company, while Abdallah joined as a founding engineer.

Originally designed to simplify access to NVIDIA GPUs, Brev allowed developers to launch fully configured systems across multiple cloud providers in minutes.

“It focused on connecting a bunch of clouds all in one place,” Khalil explained. “So when we give it to you, it’s just ready to go.”

Abdallah reflected on the uncertainty of joining an early-stage startup.

“How do you know whether it’s going to succeed or not succeed?” he said. “The answer is you don’t.”

A major focus of the discussion centered on the role of open-source AI models and America’s position in the global AI race.

“If there’s a closed source project and you don’t like the direction it’s going, you don’t have a choice,” Khalil said. “If there’s an open source project and you think they’re making a bad decision, you can propose the change — and if that change gets rejected, you can clone it.”

Abdallah highlighted NVIDIA’s Nemotron family of open models, which provide not only model weights, but also training data and architecture, allowing businesses and governments to customize systems for their own needs.

Khalil emphasized the geopolitical significance of maintaining U.S. leadership in AI development.

“If you look at where all the standards have been set, without a doubt, America’s the leader,” he said. “That’s why it’s important that we remain the leader.”

The pair also broke down one of the industry’s buzziest concepts: AI agents.

“When you give an LLM tools, memory, and access to the browser, that ultimately is what an agent is,” Abdallah explained, comparing large language models to the human brain — powerful on their own, but far more capable when connected to systems that allow them to act.

Khalil shared a live example of an AI agent running on a personal NVIDIA DGX Spark system that successfully located and paid his outstanding parking tickets in San Francisco. The agent reportedly attempted 22 different methods to solve an internet CAPTCHA before succeeding, highlighting both the persistence and current limitations of agentic AI systems.

The discussion also touched on “harnesses,” the surrounding infrastructure that enables AI systems to operate more independently.

“The harnesses got so good that you can actually just use them rather than have to build your own agent from scratch,” Khalil said. “That’s why we’re hearing the word agent and the word harness so much.”

Despite the complexity of the technology, both engineers stressed that AI interaction is becoming increasingly intuitive for everyday users.

“Interacting with these models is a different pattern for a lot of people to understand,” Abdallah said. “If it doesn’t work the first time, ask it why. These are more of an iterative process.”

He added that communicating effectively with AI systems relies on a skill most people already have.

“We all speak natural language,” Abdallah said. “You can now use that same skill for these systems.”

The full episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

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.”

Washington – While there will not be a comedian performing at this year’s The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25th, the acclaimed mentalist Oz Pearlman will headline the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He will introduce a new style of entertainment to Washington’s most recognized annual gatherings. The selection reflects a continued evolution of the event, which brings together journalists, policymakers, and media leaders to celebrate the role of a free press and the First Amendment.

Pearlman, recently featured on 60 Minutes, is an Emmy Award-winning entertainer known for his interactive performances that blend psychology, memory, and illusion. His selection represents a shift from traditional stand-up comedy to a format designed to engage audiences in a shared experience centered on curiosity and surprise.

“As the world’s most celebrated mentalist, Oz Pearlman will offer a fascinating glimpse into what’s truly on the minds of Washington’s newsmakers,” said Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. “We look forward to an exciting, fresh, and interactive evening as we celebrate the First Amendment and Washington news coverage together.”

The announcement comes during a period of continued change across the media industry, as organizations adapt to new technologies, evolving audience habits, and shifts in business models. Leadership transitions and ownership changes among major media companies – including Paramount’s acquisition of CBS – have drawn attention to how legacy news organizations are positioning themselves for the future in an increasingly digital and technology-driven environment.

For communities like the Washington AI Network, which convene leaders across media, technology, and public policy, moments like the White House Correspondents’ Dinner serve as reminders of the enduring role of public service, including journalism. The gathering remains a rare opportunity for professionals across sectors to come together to recognize reporting, storytelling, and the institutions that support the flow of information.

As Pearlman prepares to take the stage, the 2026 dinner reflects both continuity and change – honoring long-standing traditions while embracing new forms of engagement at a time when media and technology continue to evolve side by side.