#1 Benefit
One of the most coveted invitations of the year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit brings together 550 of the most stylish figures in fashion, entertainment, art, and society to raise money for the museum. Rihanna, Uma Thurman, and Zoe Kravitz were just a few of the stars who donned head-turning ensembles at the 2018 event, which generated more than $13 million and celebrated the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” exhibit. The 2019 gala will highlight the exhibition “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” promising a red carpet filled with avant-garde looks from the industry’s top designers. Chaired each year by Anna Wintour, this year’s Met Gala will be co-chaired by Lady Gaga, Alessandro Michele, Harry Styles, and Serena Williams. Next: May 6, 2019
#2 Benefit
Taking over nine acres of the Jacob K. Javits Center, the Robin Hood Benefit draws 4,000 guests who come to support the organization’s work in aiding nearly two million New Yorkers who live in poverty. Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost and Michael Che hosted the 2018 gala, where Jennifer Lopez performed and Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Douglas, and Catherine Zeta-Jones were among the many celebrities in attendance. The event generated more than $54 million, making it the city’s highest-earning fund-raiser for the year. Next: May 13, 2019
#3 Benefit
The Museum of Modern Art’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden offers an unforgettable backdrop for the annual Party in the Garden, which raises money to benefit the museum’s general operating fund. Carolina Herrera, Chuck Close, and Cindy Sherman were among the high-profile guests at the 2018 gala, which honored museum trustee Agnes Gund and featured a performance by St. Vincent. The museum declined to disclose the fund-raising total. Next: Spring 2019
#4 Benefit
Fifteen-hundred guests attend the annual Whitney Gala and Studio Party, which generated $4.8 million to support the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2018. This year, the Michael Kors-sponsored event will honor former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Next: April 9, 2019
#5 Benefit
A fund-raiser for the American Ballet Theatre, the Spring Gala is held each year at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. A-list patrons including Katie Holmes, Alec Baldwin, and Sting attended last year’s event, which was presented by Harry Winston. In 2019, the gala honors the 10th anniversary of artist-in-residence Alexei Ratmansky and Board of Trustees chair Andrew F. Barth. Next: May 20, 2019
#6 Benefit
Debbie Harry, Zac Posen, and Padma Lakshmi were among the 4,000 guests who attended the Metropolitan Opera’s Opening Night Gala, a glamorous black-tie affair that raised $5 million for the prestigious arts organization. The evening’s performance of Camille Saint-Saens’s Samson et Dalila was also live streamed on the Times Square jumbotrons. Next: September 23, 2019
#7 Benefit
More than 650 guests attended the 2018 Friends of the High Line Spring Benefit, which began with cocktails at the elevated park followed by dinner at 60 Tenth Avenue and Highline Stages. The event raised more than $3 million. In 2019, the benefit celebrates two important milestones: 10 years since the High Line first opened and 20 years since Friends of the High Line was founded. It will be one of the first events held at the newly opened Spur & Coach Passage. Next: Spring 2019
#8 Benefit
The Library Lions Benefit, the New York Public Library’s largest fund-raiser of the year, draws 500 guests to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building to honor outstanding achievement in arts, culture, letters, and scholarship. Since its inception in 1981, the event has recognized leaders including Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Atwood, and Gloria Steinem. In 2018, the event raised more than $2.7 million. Next: November 4, 2019
#9 Benefit
Hosted by the Women’s Committee and Board of Trustees of the Central Park Conservancy, the Frederick Law Olmsted Award Luncheon celebrates the park and honors its supporters. Martha Stewart and Michael Bloomberg were among the 1,200 guests who attended the 2018 “Hat Luncheon,” which raised $4 million to restore the Conservatory Garden. Next: May 1, 2019
#10 Benefit
Held in the Garden Court and Music Room, the Frick Collection’s Young Fellows Ball raises money for the museum’s programming and educational initiatives. Six hundred Frick supporters attend this event each year, which includes access to galleries that feature masterpieces by Manet, Degas, and Rembrandt, among others. Next: March 21, 2019
#11 Benefit
As the unofficial kickoff to New York Fashion Week, the Amfar New York Gala drew some of the most important figures in fashion and entertainment to Cipriani Wall Street to recognize work in the fight against AIDS. Andy Cohen, Lena Dunham, and Kim Kardashian West were among the event chairs for the 2019 gala, which honored actress Milla Jovovich, art auctioneer Simon de Pury, and photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The event raised more than $1.7 million this year. Next: February 5, 2020
#12 Benefit (up from #13)
The Unicef Snowflake Ball celebrates Unicef USA’s life-saving work on behalf of vulnerable children around the world. Ringo Starr and Desiree Gruber were honored at the 2018 gala at Cipriani Wall Street, which featured a performance by Sheryl Crow. The event was attended by 800 guests and raised $4 million. Next: December 3, 2019
#13 Benefit
More than 300 guests gathered for the 2018 Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Spring Ball, which was held at the Plaza Hotel and supported by Saks Fifth Avenue. The evening raised more than $1 million for programs at the hospital and research grants. Next: May 21, 2019
#14 Benefit
Attended by 600 guests each year, the New York Botanical Garden’s black-tie Conservatory Ball raises money to help underwrite the institution’s children’s and family education, as well as its botanical research programs. The 2019 event will recognize Maureen K. Chilton’s nine years of service as the garden’s board chair and will highlight the vibrant and colorful exhibition “Brazilian Modern: The Living Art of Roberto Burle Marx.” Next: June 6, 2019
#15 Benefit (up from #16)
The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s New York Dinner brings together scientists, leaders in the medical industry, financial leaders, and socialites to raise money for cancer research. The 2018 event, which was held at the restaurant Daniel and included a performance from Pat Benatar, generated $11 million. Next: December 2019
#16 Benefit
In 2018, the 21st annual Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Center’s Collaborating for a Cure Gala raised $2.5 million to support research projects focused on eradicating cancer. The gala, held at Cipriani Wall Street, drew 1,200 guests and included a silent auction and a live performance by Dawes. Next: November 21, 2019
#17 Benefit
Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Brooke Shields, and Naomi Watts were among the 800 attendees at the 2018 Tribeca Ball, sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels. The annual event raises money for the New York Academy of Art and gives guests the opportunity to tour students’ studios, offering a sneak peek at the next generation of New York’s creative visionaries. Next: April 8, 2019
#18 Benefit (new to the list)
Founded in 1975, the UJA-Federation of New York Wall Street Dinner raises money to support the organization’s work to help New Yorkers in need. Attended by 2,000 Wall Street leaders, the dinner at the New York Hilton Midtown raised $31 million in 2018 alone, a $2 million increase over the prior year. The event honored Goldman Sachs C.E.O. David M. Solomon and featured keynote speaker Adam Neumann, co-founder and C.E.O. of WeWork. The evening also included the unveiling of a new UJA effort called Upward New York, which includes digital food pantries and wrap-around social services at two community hubs. Next: December 2019
#19 Benefit (new to the list)
Putting a twist on the traditional fund-raiser, the Financial Services Cares Gala includes a “Wall Street’s Got Talent” music competition, where executives from banks and investment firms compete in a crowd-pleasing talent show. Benefiting the American Cancer Society, the event started in 2005 and raised more than $2.6 million last year. Held at the New York Hilton Midtown, the event sold out last year and this year will have more seating. Next: June 13, 2019
