The Shed‘s 2026 gala took over Hudson Yards on Thursday, drawing guests to celebrate the institution ahead of its packed upcoming season. The evening honored Shed Board members Darla Moore and Colby Mugrabi, alongside playwright Lynn Nottage, musician John Legend, and director and actor Whitney White.
The latter three were recipients of the 2026 Dan Doctoroff Disruptor Award for their work on the forthcoming musical Imitation of Life, which will make its world premiere at the institution. By the night’s end, the gala had raised $2.1 million in support of the Shed’s mission to empower creatives’ experimentation, growth, and innovation in the arts.
The Scene: The evening drew a crowd fluent in the institution’s mix of art-world finesse and performance incubation—trustees and curators mingled with the actors and directors the institution has brought into its theater. Cocktail hour gave way to dinner under the building’s telescoping shell, before the crowd settled in for remarks and, later, dancing along with the night’s musical centerpiece.
The Crowd: Shed leadership including Board Chair Jonathan Tisch, CEO Meredith Hodges, Artistic Director Alex Poots, and patron Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo; actor Kara Young; artist Jeff Koons; designers Marc Jacobs and Thom Browne; curators Kamilah Forbes and Andrew Bolton; director Sam Levinson; and dancer Camille A. Brown.
The Entertainment: Dinner and remarks were followed by a special two-song performance by Legend and Adrienne Warren, offering attendees a first listen to music from their upcoming production. The afterparty was helmed by musician and DJ Jamie xx—who sent the crowd into the night on a festive high note.
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