Top 5 NYC Galas This Week: May 13–19, 2026

Here are the week’s most impactful museum, media, theater, and design benefit nights shaping New York’s cultural and philanthropic calendar— from young collectors to seasoned philanthropists (and yes, a tribute to Charlie’s Angels) — this is where influence, visibility, and high-level giving converge.

May 14

Guggenheim Young Collectors Council Party
Guggenheim Museum
9:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Guggenheim Museum

2025 Young Collectors Council (YCC) Party; May 8, 2025. Photo courtesy YCC

A leading young collectors’ night at one of the city’s most iconic museums, drawing a creative, contemporary crowd and strong art-world presence in a high-energy late-evening format.

The Paley Center for Media 2026 Paley Honors Spring Gala
Paley Center for Media
6:30 PM | The Plaza

Paley Center Media Gala honorees, 2026.

A major media-industry gala honoring global entertainment leaders and television icons, with strong celebrity attendance and significant influence across broadcast, streaming, and digital media.


May 18

Manhattan Theatre Club Spring Gala 2026
Manhattan Theatre Club
7:00 PM | Cipriani 42nd Street

Manhattan Theater Club Spring Gala takes place at Cipriani on May 18, 2026.

A premier Broadway and theater-world benefit featuring live performance programming and a strong performing arts patron base, consistently ranking among NYC’s top cultural fundraisers.


May 19

Whitney Gala 2026
Whitney Museum of American Art
Whitney Museum of American Art

Whitney Museum of Art.

One of the city’s most significant museum galas, bringing together leading collectors, artists, fashion figures, and media for a high-profile night in contemporary art.

Smithsonian National Design Awards Gala
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum
National Museum of the American Indian

Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards 2025. Photo by Nikola Bradonjic Photography

A top-tier design and innovation gala honoring leaders across architecture, product, and industrial design, connecting global creative industries with institutional recognition.