Who will attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner?

President Trump plans to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2026. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to personally attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April 2026 ^[1]. CNN Politics reported this announcement on March 2, 2026 ^[1], with UPI.com confirming his acceptance of the invitation the following day, March 3, 2026 ^[2]. This decision was also highlighted by McGill Media on Facebook ^[3].

His 2026 attendance marks a significant shift from past policy. This will be President Trump's first time participating in the event as president ^[1]. Historically, he did not attend the dinner during his prior terms, making his 2026 presence an end to a "years-long boycott" he maintained ^[2]. This represents a notable departure from his previous stance ^[1].

Specific confirmed details regarding 2026 dinner table purchases are largely unavailable. Publicly accessible information detailing the confirmed table purchasing decisions and specific guest invitation policies for CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and Fox News for the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner is generally not provided in the available web research. Furthermore, there is an absence of specific information pertaining to individual media figures such as Jake Tapper, Joe Scarborough, George Stephanopoulos, Sean Hannity, or Pete Hegseth, or their employers' explicit policies for this upcoming event ^[3].

Some employers show indirect involvement for the 2026 dinner. MSNBC, through its "MS NOW" initiative, is scheduled to host a White House Correspondents' event specifically for journalism students in 2026 ^[1]. This commitment suggests MSNBC's active participation in activities surrounding the dinner and its dedication to nurturing future journalists. Separately, CNN Politics reported on former President Trump's confirmed attendance at the 2026 dinner ^[2], indicating CNN's role in covering the event and its prominent attendees.

ABC and Fox News policies remain undisclosed in available sources. The provided research does not contain details regarding confirmed table purchasing decisions or specific guest invitation policies for either ABC or Fox News for the 2026 dinner. The information primarily covers general aspects of the dinner, historical context, or reports on specific attendees rather than the internal operational decisions of individual media organizations for the upcoming event ^[3].

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) selected renowned mentalist Oz Pearlman to host the 2026 dinner. The WHCA has officially announced Pearlman as the entertainer for the 2026 annual dinner ^[1]. His selection is noted by some as a choice designed to move away from politically charged humor, opting instead for a more neutral, non-political performance ^[2].

Pearlman has not publicly criticized prominent political figures in a way that would deter attendance. The available research does not indicate a public history of Pearlman pointedly criticizing or satirizing specific individuals, particularly political figures, which might influence their decision to attend. In fact, Pearlman himself suggested that his role as host was a factor in President Trump's decision to attend the 2026 dinner, noting Trump's "change of MIND" in attending for the first time in over a decade ^[3]. Pearlman is recognized for his mentalist abilities, having impressed figures such as former President Barack Obama ^[4].

Information on 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner table purchasers is not yet public. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) typically releases details regarding organizations purchasing tables and attendees closer to the annual event date ^[1]. Therefore, it is currently not possible to identify which non-legacy media organizations, tech companies, or political advocacy groups will be attending the 2026 dinner.

Bari Weiss's known professional affiliations do not connect to future dinner attendees. Bari Weiss is primarily recognized as the founder of The Free Press, previously known as Common Sense ^[2]. Past public records indicate a professional relationship where she invited Pete Hegseth to a 'Free Speech Event' ^[3]. One source referred to her as a 'CBS Boss' in this context, and another publication questioned if she was 'CBS News' new editor in chief' ^[3]. However, without knowing which organizations will be purchasing tables for the 2026 dinner, there is no public record to establish professional relationships or collaborations between their leadership and Bari Weiss concerning the future 2026 event.

The 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner key announcements followed a clear timeline. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) officially announced the dinner's entertainer on February 26, 2026, confirming renowned mentalist Oz Pearlman as the host for the annual event ^[1]. This was followed by the White House's official RSVP regarding presidential attendance on March 2, 2026, when President Trump declared his intention to attend the dinner, marking his first attendance as president ^[2].

Notable guest lists are typically released in the immediate week of the event. Major outlets generally publish details about notable guests during the week the event takes place ^[3]. Considering the prediction market related to attendance resolves on April 25, 2026, and the dinner historically occurs on a Saturday in late April ^[4], information about confirmed guests would likely become available in the days directly preceding the event, specifically around April 20-25, 2026. This staggered release allows for the most current and accurate representation of attendees, as final guest lists often undergo last-minute confirmations.