Brief
Saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins named MacArthur Fellow while traveling by train
Wilkins, 29, will receive an $800,000 grant as part of the foundation's 2026 fellows class.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Brooklyn‑based saxophonist, bandleader and composer Immanuel Wilkins learned he was a 2026 MacArthur Fellow while riding an Amtrak train from New York to Philadelphia, the Independent reported.
Wilkins, 29, said he waited until the train stopped to confirm the call from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, then celebrated loudly on the platform.
The MacArthur Foundation unveiled its 2026 fellows class on Tuesday, selecting 20 individuals from the performing arts to the social sciences. Each recipient will receive $800,000 over five years, with no strings attached, to support their creative or scholarly work.
Wilkins is the youngest member of the class. His debut album “Omega” links the 1918 lynching of Mary Turner to the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown, using music to explore historical trauma, the Independent noted.
Kristen Mack, vice president of communications for fellows and partnerships at the foundation, said the new class “explores the depths of our humanity” and “shows us new ways to understand the world.”
Key facts
- Immanuel Wilkins was named a 2026 MacArthur Fellow while on an Amtrak train from New York to Philadelphia. (independent.co.uk)
- The MacArthur Foundation will award each 2026 fellow $800,000 over five years. (independent.co.uk)
- Wilkins, 29, is the youngest member of the 2026 fellows class. (independent.co.uk)
What we don't know yet
- Exact date of the MacArthur Foundation's announcement (the article says "Tuesday" but does not give a calendar date).
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “This year's MacArthur 'geniuses' include a musician, painter and economist all confronting history”
