Mentalist Oz Pearlman to Headline White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Promising to Unite and Astonish the Crowd

Mentalist Oz Pearlman will headline the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25, 2026, marking the first time a mentalist has been selected as the headline entertainer for the annual event traditionally hosted by comedians.

Pearlman, an Emmy Award winner and New York Times bestselling author, said he was brought in to unite the crowd of journalists and political figures in a sense of wonder and amazement, aiming to offer a fascinating glimpse into what is truly on the minds of Washington’s newsmakers.

He emphasized that his performance does not involve actual mind reading but rather relies on keen observation of human behavior, stating, “I’m not actually reading anyone’s mind. I’m just reading people,” a technique he describes as his bread and butter when performing for skeptical audiences such as journalists.

The White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang noted that the association looks forward to an exciting, fresh, and interactive evening celebrating the First Amendment and Washington news coverage together, highlighting Pearlman’s ability to amaze accomplished and perceptive individuals in one place.

Pearlman expressed excitement about hosting the event amid a different tenor in Washington, calling it a career-defining moment and the ultimate challenge, particularly due to the presence of skeptical journalists and the sitting president, whom he noted is not likely to be in on any performance tricks.

As a mentalist, Pearlman practices a performance art that claims to see inside people’s brains through seemingly divine intuition, drawing on observation and psychological insight to draw out individuals’ true thoughts, a skill he has demonstrated with figures ranging from sports athletes to Fortune 500 CEOs.