The UCLA Hammer Museum gala 2026 brought one of Los Angeles’s most celebrated arts evenings back to Westwood on May 2. The 21st annual Gala in the Garden drew artists, entertainers, and arts patrons to the Hammer Museum at UCLA for a night that raised over $2 million. Those funds go directly toward the museum’s exhibitions and public programs. Importantly, all of those programs remain free to the public year-round. In short, the UCLA Hammer Museum gala 2026 proved once again that great art and open access can share the same room.
What made the UCLA Hammer Museum gala 2026 a night to remember
The evening centered on 2 honorees from very different creative worlds.
1. Darren Star, the television creator behind Emily in Paris, Sex and the City, and Beverly Hills, 90210, received his honor from Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. Sarandos praised Star as one of the most gifted showrunners of his generation. He noted that Star’s work has shaped fashion choices, music taste, and personal ambition for more than three decades. Star responded warmly. He spoke about his deep love for Los Angeles and his gratitude for the community that filled the room.
- Betye Saar, a pioneering visual artist approaching her 100th birthday, received her honor from Getty Presidential Scholar Sandra Jackson-Dumont. Jackson-Dumont praised Saar’s ability to create language where silence existed and beauty where erasure had taken hold. The tribute moved the room deeply. As a result, Saar received a standing ovation. She then thanked guests and shared her personal secret to a long life a good diet, time in nature, and the spirit of being a California girl.
A room full of familiar faces
The guest list showed just how wide the Hammer’s cultural reach has grown. Owen Wilson, Rufus Wainwright, and Nico Tortorella — known for his role in Star’s series Younger all attended. Furthermore, the artist turnout was equally strong. Lauren Halsey, Karon Davis, Koshin Finley, Catherine Opie, Shio Kusaka, Barry McGee, Jonas Wood, Nikita Gale, Gabriela Ruiz, Tala Madani, Nathaniel Mellors, Edgar Arceneaux, and Max Hooper Schneider were all present. Ali Eyal also joined the evening. He recently won the $100,000 Mohn Award at the Hammer’s Made in L.A. 2025 biennial.
Joel Wachs co-chaired the event alongside Manuela Herzer and Karen Hillenburg. Wachs, president of the Andy Warhol Foundation, also opened the evening’s program and introduced Hammer Museum director Zoë Ryan.
A leadership reflection and a key farewell
Ryan used her remarks to look back on her first year at the museum’s helm. She spoke about the Hammer’s core mission giving artists space, lifting bold ideas, and building dialogue. She also raised a toast to Marcy Carsey. Carsey has chaired the Hammer Board of Directors for 12 years. She is now stepping down from that role, though she will stay on the board. Her departure marks the end of a significant era. Nevertheless, Ryan made clear that the museum’s direction stays steady.
What the $2 million funds
Every dollar raised goes toward keeping the museum open and free. The Hammer holds more than 50,000 works in its permanent collection. That includes one of the finest collections of works on paper in the country, through the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts. Films, talks, readings, and concerts all run at no cost to visitors. Additionally, the Made in L.A. biennial continues to serve as a key platform for emerging artists.
How the night ended
After dinner, guests moved into an after-party. Artist Landon Ross performed an exclusive DJ set. Patrón and Grey Goose provided the cocktails. The evening closed on a high note one that gave the Los Angeles arts community exactly what it needed.
Source: Hammer Museum
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