PHOTO: Inside the LA MOCA Gala 2026

Keanu Reeves, Alexandra Grant, China Chow and Alex Israel. Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles’ annual gala is undoubtedly one of LA’s most exciting evenings, and the 2026 edition at The Geffen Contemporary did not disappoint. The $3 million night was hosted by a brilliant and creative dancer of many stripes Stephen Galloway and “made even more special through Piero Golia‘Fantastic interventions and the brilliance of a wide cast of collaborators.” Ann GoldsteinLA MOCA’s Interim Maurice Marciano Director, Observer said.

First on the itinerary? Guests lined up for cocktails at a reception featuring a beautiful performance by the MOCA Gala Symphony Orchestra alongside a specially conceived installation by Golia. From there, returning to last year’s MOCA Legends format, the gala celebrated three figures whose contributions to contemporary art are, in different ways, foundational. For starters, artist and MOCA board member The Madani story took the dais to introduce the artist Paul McCarthyfollowed by the director of The Brick Hamza Walkerwho introduced his friends”monuments” co-curator, the artist Kara Walker. Chairman of the Board Carolyn Clark Powers concluded the tributes by recognizing the president of the Jumex Foundation for Contemporary Art Eugenio Lopez Alonso for two decades of support.

Hamza Walker and the Honorable Kara Walker. Getty Images for MOCA

“When I returned to MOCA last summer as interim director, I returned to an institution firmly focused on its mission to present the most significant and challenging art of our time,” said Goldstein, referring to the museum as an “ecosystem that empowers artists to challenge, provoke and transform our understanding of the world.”

Actors stood out in the gathered crowd Supriya Ganesh AND Keanu Reeves (on the side of the artist based in Los Angeles and Berlin Alexandra Grant), who shared a room with the director Ava DuVernaybestselling author Minka Kellyhost of the show Trisha Cardosoproducer China Chowsongwriter Rufus Wainwright AND Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons. Venture capital investors and art collectors mingled among them Jarl Mohnentrepreneur and art collector Sonya Yupower couple Balthazar AND Rosetta Gettyphilanthropist Jerry AND Terry Kohl, Deborah Irmas AND Terri Smooke, and collectors Heather Podesta, Kathi B. Selvi AND Clifford J. Einstein.

The art world also showed up in force, of course. Director of the Hammer Museum Zoë Ryancurator Connie Butlergallerists Jeffrey Deitch AND Esthella ProofFounder of the Box Mara McCarthy and a long list of artists rubbed elbows with the designer Johnson Heartyarchitect Kulapat Yantrasast and other notable creators, giving the evening its own brand of electricity.