The 2026 Annual McKinney Reading Series and Student Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at the Heffner Alumni House. The event will feature Hisham Matar, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of three novels and two memoirs. The evening will include the announcement of the McKinney Student Writing Contest winners, a literary reading, and an audience Q&A, followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase at the event.