Ayad Akhtar — The Radiance - with Jeffrey Goldberg

Ayad Akhtar presents *The Radiance*, a novel about a writer whose life is upended by a hit-and-run. As he struggles with revelation, madness, and the mysterious aftermath of the accident, he becomes drawn into a dangerous relationship with a brilliant campus colleague. The story moves through academic and cultural conflict, erotic entanglement, a concealed family secret, and questions of violence, faith, identity, and what remains luminous after personal and societal rupture.

Akhtar will discuss the book with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of *The Atlantic*. The program will be followed by a signing line with Akhtar.

When: Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Showtime: 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Betts Theater, 800 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052.

Format: An author conversation with Ayad Akhtar moderated by Jeffrey Goldberg.

Lineup: Ayad Akhtar is a novelist and playwright whose work has appeared in more than two dozen languages. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Edith Wharton Citation of Merit for Fiction, and an American Academy of Arts and Letters literature award. His books include *American Dervish* and *Homeland Elegies*, and his plays include *McNeal*, *Junk*, *Disgraced*, *The Who & The What*, and *The Invisible Hand*. He was named New York State Author in 2021.

Moderator: Jeffrey Goldberg is editor in chief of *The Atlantic* and moderator of *Washington Week With The Atlantic*. Previously, he worked as a correspondent for *The New Yorker* and *The New York Times Magazine*, and began his journalism career at *The Washington Post*. He is the author of *Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror* and *On Heroism: McCain, Milley, Mattis, and the Cowardice of Donald Trump*. His honors include the National Magazine Award for Reporting, the Daniel Pearl Award for Reporting, and the John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Tickets: Price not available. The event is ticketed and presented offsite in partnership with the venue.

Signing: The event will be followed by a signing line with Ayad Akhtar.

Event Book: *The Radiance: A Novel* is available for preorder in hardcover for $29.00, with a listed publication date of September 29, 2026.

Ages: No age guidance is stated.

Run time: Not stated.

Accessibility: No accessibility information is provided.