2026 LACMA Art+Film Gala Honors Denis Villeneuve and Vija Celmins in Star-Studded Night

Honoring cinematic and visual masters

Updated Nov. 7, 2026, at 11:30 p.m. Central / Nov. 8, 5:30 a.m. UTC.

Hollywood luminaries and leaders of the contemporary art world converged on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Saturday evening for the 15th annual LACMA Art+Film Gala, celebrating director Denis Villeneuve and visual artist Vija Celmins.

Co-chaired by museum trustee Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio—who have spearheaded the prestigious benefit since its founding in 2011—the gala serves as LACMA’s premier annual fundraiser, supporting film acquisitions, major exhibitions, and community education initiatives, according to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Villeneuve, the Oscar-nominated Canadian director celebrated for groundbreaking cinematic epics including Dune, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049, was presented with the evening’s film honor, recognized by peers for expanding the visual and narrative boundaries of speculative cinema. Celmins, the renowned Latvian-American artist acclaimed for her photorealistic drawings and paintings of nocturnal skies, ocean surfaces, and desert terrains, was honored for more than five decades of contributions to contemporary American art, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

Red carpet arrivals and musical performance

Presented in partnership with luxury fashion house Gucci, which has backed the gala for over a decade, the red carpet saw a parade of bespoke couture and high-profile attendees, W Magazine reported.

Guests walking the museum grounds included Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Andrew Garfield, Alix Earle, and leading figures from global cinema, fashion, and philanthropy. Attendees praised the dual focus on painting and cinema, highlighting the shared language between visual fine art and modern motion picture craft.

The evening culminated with an exclusive live musical performance by international pop superstar ROSÉ, who headlined the dinner program beneath the museum’s open-air pavilion. Museum officials noted that proceeds from the gala would fund LACMA’s ongoing curatorial programming and broader civic outreach across Southern California.

Where the gala took place

The star marks the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) along Wilshire Boulevard on the historic Miracle Mile in Los Angeles, California.

Gala night highlights

All times are Pacific time on Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Los Angeles:

1. 6:00 p.m. Red carpet arrivals commence outside the Smidt Welcome Plaza, with honorees and celebrity guests showcasing custom Gucci attire.
2. 7:30 p.m. Cocktail reception concludes and guests transition to the gala dinner pavilion.
3. 8:30 p.m. Co-chairs Leonardo DiCaprio and Eva Chow deliver opening remarks, introducing tributes to Vija Celmins and Denis Villeneuve.
4. 9:45 p.m. ROSÉ takes the stage for a headline musical set, concluding the official gala program.

Sources and visual credits

Los Angeles County Museum of Art · The Hollywood Reporter · W Magazine.

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