Wynton Marsalis to Receive the 2026
Truman Good Neighbor Award

Kansas City Marriott Downtown | May 12, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Award Foundation is pleased to announce that internationally acclaimed musician and composer Wynton Marsalis will be its 2026 Good Neighbor Award honoree.

The award will be presented on May 12 at the Foundation’s annual Good Neighbor Award Luncheon at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Marsalis is a world-renowned trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and educator whose career spans more than four decades. A nine-time Grammy Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient for music, Marsalis has been a leading advocate for jazz as a uniquely American art form. As Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, he has worked to advance arts education, preserve America’s musical heritage, and foster cultural exchange around the world.

“Wynton Marsalis embodies the spirit of leadership, service, and cultural diplomacy that defined President Truman,” said Foundation President Karl Zobrist. “We are honored to recognize his extraordinary contributions to music, education, and public life with the Truman Good Neighbor Award in May.”

The Good Neighbor Award is presented annually to honor public figures who exemplify the principles of Harry S. Truman and are recognized for outstanding service to their community and the Nation. Past honorees have included Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and other distinguished public figures from across the country.

In addition to this award, the Foundation will present the annual Philip Pistilli Silver Veterans Medal Award to retired Brigadier General Bryan Wampler and will award college scholarships to several deserving area students.

The Luncheon is open to the public.

Tickets and more information can be found here.

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