#1 Benefit
New York’s glitziest red-carpet event becomes more of a scene every year, with 2013’s punk theme enticing everyone from Kanye West to Beyoncé and Madonna to rub shoulders with the city’s fashion and social elite. This year's ball will mark the reopening of the Costume Institute space as the Anna Wintour Costume Center with the inaugural exhibition, "Charles James: Beyond Fashion." Next: May 5, 2014
#2 Benefit
A bevy of Wall Street executives and philanthropists from around the world gather for the city’s signature big-money fund-raiser, which took in a whopping $80 million last year. Next: May 12, 2014
#3 Benefit
High society, high art, and pop culture meet each spring in MoMa’s sculpture garden, where organizers traditionally combine a live set from an of-the-moment pop act—the band Fun, last year—with tributes to art world elite like Ellsworth Kelly and Cindy Sherman. Next: May 13, 2014
#4 Benefit
The museum’s fall fete moved to a new venue, Skylight at Moynihan Station, in 2013 and reeled in $2.75 million during a star-studded party sponsored by Louis Vuitton. Next: Fall 2014
#5 Benefit
Uma Thurman, Sigourney Weaver, and Lucy Liu were among the marquee names that filled Lincoln Center for the ballet’s celebrated season kickoff in 2013. Next: May 12, 2014
#6 Benefit
The Met marked the debut of its 129th season in 2013 with a celebrity-studded gala at Lincoln Center, while 1,500 more music lovers watched the opening night screened live in Times Square. Next: September 22, 2014
#7 Benefit
Outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg, author Junot Diaz, and famed composer Stephen Sondheim were among those honored at the lionized literary benefit in 2013. Next: November 3, 2014
#8 Benefit
The nonprofit that maintains the favorite public space of every Manhattan socialite hosts the huge fund-raiser, which has quickly become a fixture on the spring benefit calendar, bringing in $3.2 million in 2013 with guests like Chelsea Clinton and honoree Ethan Hawke. Next: May 20, 2014
#9 Benefit
A reliable presence on New York’s social calendar, the long-standing “hat luncheon” raised $3.3 million from 1,300 guests last year. Next: May 2014
#10 Benefit
The 15-year-old party is one of the year’s leading draws for New York’s young socialites, with a “Dance of Time” theme and music from of-the-moment DJ Hannah Bronfman in 2013. Next: March 13, 2014
#11 Benefit (up from #15)
One of the marquee draws of New York’s February Fashion Week, the nonprofit draws a model-heavy crowd to mingle with stars like Robin Wright and Liam Neeson to its gala, which raised $1.7 million this year. Next: February 2015
#12 Benefit
The seventh annual edition of the fund-raiser, which hauled in $1.5 million last year, will move to the Waldorf Astoria this spring, with Graff and Valentino sponsoring. Next: May 13, 2014
#13 Benefit
The traditional conclusion to the spring benefit season welcomes 600 guests to the Botanical Garden’s 250-acre home in the Bronx, raising $1.5 million last year. Next: June 2014
#14 Benefit
The 16th annual fund-raiser, known as “the Waxman” raised $3 million from some 850 guests at the Park Avenue Armory in 2013 and featured a live performance from the band Train. Next: November 2014
#15 Benefit
Featuring performances by Pharrell Williams, Carole King, and Keep a Child Alive co-founder Alicia Keys, the H.I.V./AIDS benefit raised $4 million in 2013. Next: Fall 2014
#16 Benefit
The holiday season's black-tie gala, which featured a performance from Katy Perry and a humanitarian award for actor Danny Glover in 2013, has raised $18 million over the past decade. Next: December 2014
#17 Benefit
Michael Bloomberg, actor Hugh Jackman, and performer Common were all on hand for the annual event in 2013, helping to raise more than $1.2 million. Next: September 2014
