Cynthia Erivo was honoured at American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT) 2026 Fall Gala at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York late October, per observer.com. Sponsored by Dior, the Halloween-timed benefit adopted an “Angels and Demons” theme to raise essential funds for the company’s new productions, dancer training, and community education initiatives.
Praising Erivo’s artistic contributions, veteran performer Debbie Allen introduced the award-winning actress, singer and Wicked star as a “talented and fearless” artist.
Accepting the award, Erivo reflected on her first experience watching an ABT production a decade earlier, describing the arts as essential to human life and emotional connection.
The gala drew a high-profile audience from fashion, film, and the arts, including Katie Holmes, Misty Copeland, Lake Bell, and Michael Kors. Artistic director Susan Jaffe curated a performance program showcasing classical and contemporary works spanning three centuries, featuring excerpts from Swan Lake, Coppélia, La Sylphide, and Frederick Ashton’s The Dream.
The event concluded with a themed dinner on the Promenade, a live paddle auction, and a special performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” by students from ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, which received a portion of the evening’s proceeds.
The annual fall gala serves as a critical revenue generator for American Ballet Theatre, supporting both its mainstage repertoire and nationwide educational outreach. Executive director Barry Hughson emphasized the ongoing necessity of funding live performance, highlighting the role of artists in uplifting the public spirit.