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60 Minutes Reports on “A Psychedelic Journey”, “The Mardi Gras Indians” & “The Indomitable Margaret Atwood” on August 16 2026

Ryan Gill

CBS’ 60 Minutes returns on Sunday, August 16, 2026, with an encore presentation featuring three previously aired reports that have been updated for the postseason edition. The broadcast brings together stories about veterans searching for new ways to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, a centuries-old New Orleans cultural tradition, and the extraordinary career of acclaimed Canadian author Margaret Atwood.

The episode airs from 7:00 to 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and will also be available on Paramount+. Anderson Cooper, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim serve as correspondents for the three featured reports.

A Psychedelic Journey Follows Veterans Searching for Relief

The first segment, “A Psychedelic Journey,” examines the growing interest in psychedelic drugs as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction. Anderson Cooper follows a group of U.S. veterans who are looking beyond conventional treatments in the hope of finding relief from the psychological effects of their military service.

The Veterans Administration has announced funding for clinical trials examining psychedelic drugs and their potential therapeutic benefits. However, the research remains limited in scale. Even if the trials produce promising results, it could still be years before psychedelic treatments become routinely accessible to veterans through the VA.

That long timeline has led some veterans to seek alternatives outside the United States. Thousands have reportedly traveled overseas to locations where certain psychedelic substances can legally be used, including retreats that incorporate them into indigenous ceremonies.

Cooper follows nine veterans as they travel to the west coast of Mexico for one such psychedelic journey. The report explores what brings the veterans to this point, what they hope to experience and whether the ceremonies can provide the healing they have been searching for.

The segment also places their experiences within a larger discussion about how PTSD and other mental health conditions are treated. While scientific research into psychedelic-assisted therapy continues, the veterans featured in the report have chosen not to wait for the lengthy clinical and regulatory process in the United States.

“A Psychedelic Journey” is reported by Anderson Cooper and produced by Katie Brennan.

The Mardi Gras Indians Preserve a New Orleans Tradition

Bill Whitaker travels to New Orleans for “The Mardi Gras Indians,” a colorful look at a cultural tradition that stretches back to at least the 1800s. The report introduces viewers to the Mardi Gras Indians, who are also known as Black Masking Indians.

Every year during Mardi Gras, Black revelers take to the backstreets of New Orleans wearing elaborate, hand-sewn suits. The remarkable outfits are not simply costumes created for a single celebration. Each can require an entire year of careful work before it is finally worn during Mardi Gras.

Behind the intricate designs is a tradition built around history, community and remembrance. The Mardi Gras Indians have been described as one of America’s last secret societies, with customs that have been preserved and passed down through generations.

Whitaker explores how the tradition represents both resilience and resistance. The participants use their suits, gatherings and rituals to honor their ancestors while protecting a distinctive part of Black New Orleans culture.

The report also gives viewers a closer look at the extraordinary craftsmanship involved. The elaborate suits are one of the most immediately recognizable parts of the tradition, but the segment goes beyond their visual appeal to examine the deeper meaning attached to the work and the people who continue creating them.

“The Mardi Gras Indians” is reported by Bill Whitaker and produced by Nichole Marks.

The Indomitable Margaret Atwood Looks Back on a Remarkable Literary Career

The final report, “The Indomitable Margaret Atwood,” turns the spotlight on one of the most influential authors of the modern era. Correspondent Jon Wertheim profiles Margaret Atwood, the Canadian writer whose extensive body of work includes the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale.

At 86, Atwood has written 64 books and established herself as Canada’s best-known author. Her fiction has frequently explored authoritarianism, environmental destruction, social control and other unsettling possibilities. That has contributed to her reputation as a literary “prophet of doom,” particularly when events portrayed in her fictional worlds have appeared to resemble later developments in real life.

Wertheim speaks with Atwood about her memoir, Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, and the experiences behind a career spanning decades. The conversation provides an opportunity for Atwood to reflect on her life as a writer as well as the ideas and events that have shaped her work.

A major focus is The Handmaid’s Tale and its transformation from a celebrated novel into a cultural touchstone. Originally published in 1985, the story has remained prominent well beyond the literary world, with its imagery and themes continuing to generate discussion decades after the book first appeared.

Atwood also discusses efforts to ban or restrict access to her books. Rather than retreating from controversy, the author has continued speaking publicly about her work and the importance of allowing challenging literature to remain accessible.

“The Indomitable Margaret Atwood” is reported by Jon Wertheim and produced by Nathalie Sommer.

When to Watch 60 Minutes on Sunday, August 16, 2026

The August 16 edition of 60 Minutes offers three very different stories connected by themes of identity, resilience and the search for ways to confront difficult experiences. “A Psychedelic Journey” follows veterans willing to travel outside the United States while searching for relief from PTSD and other conditions. “The Mardi Gras Indians” explores a New Orleans tradition that has survived for generations, while “The Indomitable Margaret Atwood” profiles an author whose work continues to provoke debate around the world.

This broadcast is an encore presentation, with the previously aired segments updated for the postseason edition.

60 Minutes airs Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS. The episode will also be available on Paramount+.

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