The institute said the award recognizes leadership and service. Former President Joe Biden was its inaugural recipient in 2025.

Pelosi, a California Democrat, made history in 2007 as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, and she was elected to the post again in January 2019. Her career has made her one of the most recognizable figures in modern American politics, and the Boston recognition places her in a line of honor tied to the late Massachusetts senator whose name the institute carries.

The evening's program also spotlighted a younger generation of civic engagement. Mariah Eskel, a senior at North Andover High School, was among the featured speakers. Eskel co-developed and filed two state legislative initiatives aimed at promoting investment in renewable energy — a detail that resonated at an event honoring a long legislative career.

Members of the Kennedy family, elected representatives and other government officials were expected to attend the dinner. The Boston Children's Chorus was set to perform, along with Grammy-nominated recording artist Michelle Brooks-Thompson, a finalist on the third season of NBC's "The Voice."

The award arrives at a moment when questions about the durability of democratic institutions and the tenor of political leadership are front of mind for many voters. Pelosi's recognition, and the institute's choice to pair it with a student climate advocate, framed the evening around the idea that legislative service and civic participation are linked across generations.

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute, located in Boston, is dedicated to educating the public about the U.S. Senate and encouraging civic involvement. Its annual dinner has become a venue for honoring figures whose careers reflect the institution's stated values of leadership and public service.