BlackStar has announced its 2026 BlackStar Luminary Gala honorees: Firelight Media, a key organization that supports the creation, distribution, and impact of documentary media; John W. Simmons, an award-winning cinematographer, director, and photographer whose art explores Black life, culture, and memory; Mahershala Ali, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor, known for his performances in Moonlight and Green Book; and Mara Brock Akil, a Peabody Award-winning writer, producer, and director of over 400 episodes of television, among her groundbreaking credits are Forever, Girlfriends and The Game.

The Luminary Gala is BlackStar’s premier fundraising event, supporting a suite of year-round cultural programming for and by Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists. It is an unforgettable evening of celebration, entertainment, dancing, and the presentation of the Luminary Awards. Proceeds from the event support BlackStar’s suite of year-round cultural programming that provides Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists with the resources, support, and shine they need to thrive.

BlackStar's annual Luminary Gala will take place on Friday, November 20, 2026, from 6:00pm-10:30pm at The Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia. Early bird tickets are now on sale through September 30.

Learn more via BlackStar.