The Academy Museum Gala returned to Los Angeles on Saturday, October 17, for its sixth year, and the guest list was as heavy as ever. Hollywood, music and fashion shared one room to raise money for the museum’s work of preserving film history. Strategically, it is the museum’s biggest night, and the calculus is simple: big names bring big donations.
Three honorees
Charlize Theron took the Icon Award for a global impact built on performances in Monster and Bombshell. Colman Domingo received the Vantage Award for work that contextualizes and challenges dominant narratives in cinema, including Rustin and Sing Sing. John Carpenter, the filmmaker and composer behind Halloween, The Thing and Escape from New York, was given the Luminary Award for widening what films can do.
Museum director and president Amy Homma described the night as “a celebration of the artists and storytellers whose work continues to shape the cultural impact of cinema around the world.” Rolex presented the evening, which also backs the museum’s exhibitions, screenings and educational programs.
The crowd and the carpet
Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw co-chaired. The host committee included Greta Lee, Teyana Taylor, Kirsten Dunst, Kate Hudson, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Demi Moore and Jessica Alba. Taylor Swift performed to close the night. Homma called her an “extraordinary talent whose work resonates around the world.”
The carpet, gray rather than red, drew custom Dior and Prada alongside archival Balenciaga. Vogue singled out Naomi Ackie, who opened the carpet in a purple Balenciaga strapless gown with a tiered, voluminous skirt. Maya Hawke wore a crystal-covered Prada column gown, and Mia Goth chose a black sequin Dior dress that clung close to the body.
Sources
- All the Celebrity Looks From the 2026 Academy Museum Gala
- Every Must-See Look From the 2026 Academy Museum Gala
- The Best Dressed Stars From the 2026 Academy Museum Gala
Photo: PhilipRomano (CC BY-SA 4.0)
