Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

The Kennedy Center awards the late Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author George Carlin with the eleventh annual Mark Twain Prize in a star-studded celebration.

Guest at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. honoring Bill Cosby, receiving the 14th 'Mark Twain Price for American Humor'. (Cosby's award was rescinded in 2018 due to a sexual assault conviction.)

Guest at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. honoring Tina Fey, receiving the 13th 'Mark Twain Prize for American Humour'.

Guest at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. honoring Will Ferrell, receiving the 14th 'Mark Twain Price for American Humour'.

Guest at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. honoring Ellen DeGeneres, receiving the 15th 'Mark Twain Price for American Humour'.

Guest at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. honoring Carol Burnett, receiving the 16th 'Mark Twain Price for American Humour'.

A lineup of top entertainers, including Garth Brooks, Kevin Eubanks, Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Handler, Seth Meyers, Jerry Seinfeld, J.B. Smoove, Wanda Sykes, and others, will salute Jay Leno at the 17th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. The evening will pay tribute to the humor and accomplishments of Jay Leno, and will be videotaped by WETA Washington, D.C. as Jay Leno: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. The program will air on PBS stations nationwide November 23, 2014 (check local listings). Artists are subject to change.

Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Kathy Griffin, and Arsenio Hall are among the performers who honor Eddie Murphy with the 2015 Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Louis-Dreyfus earned worldwide acclaim for her portrayal of Elaine Benes in the hit NBC series Seinfeld, and as Christine Campbell in the CBS hit comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine. She currently stars in, and executive produces, the HBO series Veep. Between all shows combined, she has received 11 Emmy awards (six consecutively for Veep) with 24 nominations, a Golden Globe award, nine Screen Actors Guild awards which makes her the most decorated actor in the history of the SAG awards, three Television Critics Association awards, five American Comedy Awards, a Peabody Award, and the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy. She has broken the record for the most Emmy’s won by a single performer, as well as the most consecutive wins for a single role (Veep.)

An all-star lineup of entertainers salute and celebrate the career achievements of comedian Dave Chappelle, the recipient of the 22nd Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The event was held at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.

An outstanding lineup of entertainers gathers in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall to salute Jon Stewart, recipient of the 23rd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, including Samantha Bee, Steve Carell, Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Ed Helms, Jimmy Kimmel, Olivia Munn, Bassem Youssef and Bruce Springsteen. John Oliver and Stephen Colbert appeared in a pre-taped video.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presented the 24th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Adam Sandler. The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world's greatest humorists was awarded to Adam Sandler at a gala performance featuring some of the biggest names in comedy at the Kennedy Center on March 19, 2023.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the 25th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Kevin Hart The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world’s greatest humorists was awarded to Kevin Hart at a gala performance featuring some of the biggest names in comedy at the Kennedy Center on March 24, 2024.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presented the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Conan O’Brien on March 23, 2025 in the Concert Hall. The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world’s greatest humorists, was awarded at a gala performance featuring some of the biggest names in comedy, including Bill Burr, Stephen Colbert, Sean Evans, Nikki Glaser, Will Ferrell, David Letterman, Kumail Nanjini, Tracy Morgan, John Mulaney, Adam Sandler, Andy Richter, Reggie Watts, Sarah Silverman, and music director Max Weinberg.