Will Rogers Medallion Award heads to northeast Oklahoma for four days of Western events

Award-winning authors, actors and historians will gather in Claremore and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oct. 28-31 for the 2026 Will Rogers Medallion Award celebration. The schedule includes school outreach, a writing conference, a Will Rogers tribute, a parade and an awards banquet honoring Western literature and storytelling.

Why it matters: - The annual Will Rogers Medallion Award celebration is designed to preserve Western stories and pass them to new readers. - The 2026 event blends literature, education, performance and community programming across northeast Oklahoma. - The public can attend several events, including a free book signing and conference sessions.

What happened: - The 2026 Will Rogers Medallion Award celebration runs Oct. 28-31 in Claremore and Tulsa, Oklahoma. - The event schedule includes a free wine-and-cheese book signing, school outreach visits, the Craft of Writing the West Conference, a community Meet & Greet, An Evening with Will, the Will Rogers Days Parade and the Will Rogers Medallion Award Banquet. - The celebration opens Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 6-8 p.m. with a free public book signing at the Claremore Museum of History, 121 North Weenonah Avenue, Claremore. - Participating authors include Kathleen O’Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear, Chris Enss, Bill Markley, Joni Franks, Harriet Lewis and Preston Lewis. - More than 20 authors will visit schools across northeast Oklahoma on Thursday, Oct. 29. - Thursday evening’s Meet & Greet will take place at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore and will include a screening of Little House Homecoming and a question-and-answer session with Dean Butler. - The Craft of Writing the West Conference runs Friday, Oct. 30, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa. - An Evening with Will is set for Friday, Oct. 30, from 7-9 p.m. and will honor Will Rogers at the same resort. - The celebration ends Saturday, Oct. 31, with the Will Rogers Days Parade in Claremore and the award banquet at River Spirit Casino Resort.

The details: - School outreach sessions will cover frontier history, biography, fiction, research, creativity and the writing process. - Students will learn how authors find stories, develop ideas, build characters and publish books. - Authors will leave cases of books for young readers as part of the outreach program. - Featured conference presenters include Anne Hillerman, Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear. - Conference topics include character development, dialogue, historical research, manuscript revision, the publishing industry and long-term author careers. - An Evening with Will will feature Bruce Boxleitner, Barry Corbin, Dean Butler, Western film authority Rob Word and Will Rogers family representative Jennifer Rogers. - The program will be hosted by Tanner Messer of KVOO and Tess Maune of News On 6. - The banquet will recognize achievements in Western literature and related arts. - Bruce Boxleitner and Barry Corbin will receive the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. - Clint Black will receive the Will Rogers Golden Lariat Award for his contributions to Western storytelling and his work preserving the spirit of the American West. - The organization’s mission includes educational outreach, author programs, book donations and student opportunities. - The Will Rogers Medallion Award recognizes works celebrating the history, people, traditions and spirit of the American West. - More information is available at the Will Rogers Medallion Award website or by email at gvcenss@aol.com.

Between the lines: - The event is built to do more than hand out awards; it also serves as a pipeline for literacy and Western history outreach. - Pairing a writing conference with school visits and a Rogers tribute broadens the audience beyond industry insiders. - The lineup mixes authors, actors and local media personalities, signaling an effort to make the celebration feel both cultural and community-focused.

What's next: - Registration and ticket details are available through the organization’s website and by email. - Northeast Oklahoma will host the full slate of events from Oct. 28-31. - The awards banquet on Oct. 31 will close out the 2026 celebration and spotlight this year’s winners.