Cynthia Erivo to Be Honored at American Ballet Theatre’s 2026 Fall Gala

Cynthia Erivo will be honored at American Ballet Theatre’s 2026 Fall Gala: Angels and Demons on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.

A Grammy, Daytime Emmy and Tony Award winner and three-time Academy Award nominee, Erivo has become one of the most lauded artists of her generation. Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba in the Wicked films earned her widespread recognition. In 2025 she received her second career Grammy for “Defying Gravity” from the first Wicked film, performed with her co-star, Ariana Grande. Earlier this year, she returned to the West End in Dracula, taking on 23 characters in an ambitious one-woman production.

By the time of the American Ballet Theatre event, Erivo could have a Primetime Emmy as well. She has two nominations this year: outstanding variety special (live) as producer/host of the 2025 Tony Awards and outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) as principal performer/host of Wicked: One Wonderful Night.

“Few artists possess Cynthia Erivo’s extraordinary ability to transform themselves through performance,” Susan Jaffe, artistic director of American Ballet Theatre, said in a statement. “Whether through music, theater, or film, she brings an uncommon combination of artistry, emotional honesty, and fearless imagination to every role. Those are qualities we deeply value in ballet and strive to cultivate in every artist who takes our stage. Cynthia’s commitment to her craft and her ability to forge profound connections with audiences make her an inspiring artist and an especially meaningful honoree for American Ballet Theatre.”

Erivo’s connection to American Ballet Theatre dates to May 2020, when she appeared in the company’s first digital gala during the pandemic, American Ballet Theatre Together Tonight, in which she performed an a cappella rendition of “America the Beautiful” accompanying a video of the company’s dancers.

In a nod to the Halloween season, “Angels and Demons” is the theme of this year’s Fall Gala. Curated by Jaffe, the one-night-only program will feature excerpts from ballets including Coppélia, Swan Lake, La Sylphide and Sylvia, as well as performances of Frederick Ashton’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Michel Fokine’s Le Spectre de la Rose and Agnes de Mille’s Three Virgins and a Devil.

Following the performance, the Angels and Demons celebration will continue with dinner and dancing on the Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater.

The Fall Gala is American Ballet Theatre’s premier annual fundraising event. The 2026 Fall Gala will be led by Gala Grand Chairs Sloan Lindemann Barnett and Violet Barnett; Emily Blavatnik and Laila Blavatnik; and Julia Koch and Mary Julia Koch, three mother-and-daughter pairs joining together in support of American Ballet Theatre and its artists.