In the glamour of London’s Kensington Gardens, an assemblage of sophisticates in art, cinema, and style joined together in celebration of the Serpentine Summer Party. This year’s event, co-hosted by actor and producer Salma Hayek Pinault with directors Alfonso Cuarón and Alejandro González Iñárritu, paid homage to Mexican heritage and contemporary artists. The night’s star-studded cast honored the intersection of culture, design, and fundraising for the London-based art program and gallery.
The Occasion: At the heart of the evening was the Serpentine’s 2026 Pavilion, the 25th edition of the architecture commission: a site-specific architectural installation from Mexico City-based atelier LANZA. The installation’s winding brick passage visualized a dialogue between European and pan-American strains of art and culture.
The Scene: As guests wandered through the garden fête, they were met with exhibitions from painter Cecily Brown and the late David Hockney, alongside a special presentation of work from artist Jesús Rafael Soto.
The Crowd: A cultural C-suite of stars, art world mainstays, and friends of the Serpentine were in attendance, including hosts that numbered the Serpentine Chairman of the Board of Trustees Michael R. Bloomberg, CEO Bettina Korek, and artistic director Hans Ulrich Obrist, as well as actors Michael B. Jordan, Jeff Goldblum, Marisa Tomei, Kyle MacLachlan, Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson, Benedict Wong, Mark Strong, Celia Imrie, and Sienna Miller; designers Wes Gordon, Charles Jeffrey, and David Koma; singers Ellie Goulding and Caroline Polachek; model Adwoa Aboah; businesswoman Isha Ambani; TV personality Maya Jama; and style tastemakers Alexa Chung and Nicky Hilton.
Food & Drink: Chef and artist Laila Gohar provided light refreshments alongside Pavilion-inspired decadence, including molded chocolates and airy, tropical sorbets for guests to enjoy.
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