The MacArthur Fellows Program — commonly known as “genius” grants — awards winners $800,000, which is paid out over five years by the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
The no-strings-attached grants are given to creative people across a variety of fields.
Meet the 20 new MacArthur Fellows, the ‘genius grant’ winners of 2026
According to the foundation, fellows are selected for their:
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- Exceptional creativity.
- Promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishments.
- Potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work.
Recent Tribune stories about the winners:
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