Mo Amer Tapped to Hose the 86th Annual Peabody Awards

ATHENS, GA (May 13, 2026) – Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and award- winning writer Mohammed “Mo” Amer will host the 86th annual Peabody Awards ceremony on May 31 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, bringing together 2026 winners and special honorees, including actor, writer and podcast host Amy Poehler (Career Achievement Award), screenwriter Sterlin Harjo (Trailblazer Award), Academy Award-winner James L. Brooks (Inaugural Industry Icon Award), and historic programmer PBS KIDS (Institutional Award). This year’s ceremony will take a slightly different form, moving away from a traditional awards show structure and toward a more unified celebration of the winners, with honorees grouped around shared thematic categories,
creating a narrative arc carrying through the evening.

“Mo Amer is the comedic voice we need now. His comedy is bold and refreshing because he mines his own personal, heartfelt experiences as a refugee and blends them with cultural commentary that is powerful, moving, and very funny. We can’t think of a better host for a night dedicated to the most impactful stories in media,” said Jeffrey P. Jones, executive director of Peabody.

“It’s a true honor to host the 86th Annual Peabody Awards. The Peabodys have always celebrated storytelling that cuts through the noise and speaks to something real,” said Amer. “As someone who grew up feeling unseen in a lot of spaces, I know firsthand how powerful those stories can be. I’m excited to celebrate the artists, journalists, and creators who continue to move culture forward — and tell stories that can make us laugh, think, cry,
or see the world a little differently.”

This marks Amer’s first time hosting the prestigious ceremony. He is an award-winning comedian, writer, actor, director, and producer best known as the creator and star of the Peabody-winning Netflix series “MO,” inspired by his experiences as a Palestinian refugee seeking asylum while growing up in Texas. “MO” was certified fresh by Rotten Tomatoes with a rare 100% from critics and was named one of the best shows in 2022 and 2025 by The New York Times and NY Magazine. The series also garnered Amer a Gotham Award, AFI Honors, and a Television Academy Honor. A globally touring stand-up comedian who
has performed in more than 50 countries, Amer has released three acclaimed Netflix comedy specials: “Mo Amer: The Vagabond,” “Mo Amer: Mohammed in Texas,” and “Mo Amer: Wild World.” Born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents and raised in Houston after fleeing the Gulf War, Amer’s work is celebrated for blending sharp humor with deeply personal storytelling about identity, displacement, and belonging. Additional credits include “Black Adam,” Hulu’s “Ramy,” and Apple’s upcoming Season 2 of “Bad Monkey.”

The previously announced winners of the 86th annual Peabody Awards, produced by Liz Kelly and ROK Productions, will be celebrated on Sunday, May 31, at a ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Delta Air Lines and San Pellegrino Crafted Soda Italiana are supporting sponsors of the ceremony. The Peabody program is based at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

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ABOUT THE PEABODY AWARDS
The Peabody Awards is celebrating 86 years of honoring stories that defend public interest, encourage empathy and expand our understanding of the world. Respected for its integrity and revered for its standards of excellence, the Peabody is an honor like no other for television, podcast/radio, and immersive and interactive media. Chosen each year by a diverse Board of Jurors through unanimous vote, Peabody Awards are given in the categories of entertainment, documentary, news, podcast/radio, arts, children’s and youth, and public service programming. The annual Peabody winners are a collection of stories that powerfully reflect the pressing social issues and the vibrant emerging voices of our day. From major productions to local journalism, the Peabody Awards shine a light on the Stories That Matter and are a testament to the power of art and reportage in the push for truth, social justice, and equity. The Peabody Awards were founded in 1940 at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia and remain there today. The Peabody Awards also produces the award-winning podcast “We Disrupt This Broadcast,” available on all major podcast platforms. For more information, visit peabodyawards.com to sign up for our newsletter.