Nominations are being accepted for the 2026 North Carolina Award, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state, now through April 15.
Created by the General Assembly in 1961 and administered by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), the award recognizes “notable accomplishments by North Carolina citizens” in the fields of literature, science, fine arts and public service.
Award nominations may be submitted by anyone. A simplified nomination form is available online. After reviewing the initial nominations, the North Carolina Awards Committee will request additional information from nominators as needed. The committee will make its final selections this summer.
The 2026 North Carolina Award recipients will be honored at an event later this year. Past award recipients have included some of the country’s most distinguished artists, poets, writers, performers, journalists, scientists and public servants.
Previous awardees include Maya Angelou, Doc Watson, William Friday, Gertrude Elion, Branford Marsalis, and other noteworthy North Carolinians.
In 2025, Governor Josh Stein honored Woody Platt and Buddy Melton for Fine Arts, Wiley Cash for Literature, Roy Williams and James Ferguson for Public Service, and Kathie Dello for Science. The event, held in Asheville, raised nearly $200,000 for Hurricane Helene recovery.
Information on the award and the online nomination process are available here. To receive forms by mail or e-mail contact Beth Carpenter at beth.carpenter@dncr.nc.gov or (919) 814-6756.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.