Charity may begin at home, but it doesn’t have to stay there. Galas for good causes across the nation can give you an even better reason to pack your bags than wanderlust. Besides helping others, you’re likely to experience the efforts of elite entertainers, caterers, and florists while rubbing elbows with local luminaries — and sometimes international celebrities. On the financial side, host hotels frequently offer attractive discounts to gala patrons, while much of a ticket’s price may be tax-deductible. Here are some of our favorite charity galas in chronological order. Grab your tickets for this year, or mark your calendar for next year.
Check out our list of top Chicago galas here!
Updated August 13, 2025
Boston Winter Ball
“Boston’s Biggest Night Out,” the Boston Winter Ball is an annual black-tie fundraiser that draws more than 1,500 guests in support of the Cory C. Griffin Foundation. Proceeds benefit the foundation’s work expanding access to education and healthcare for children and families, supporting initiatives focused on academic opportunity, healthcare equity, character development, and housing stability.
- Where: Boston, MA
- When: March 7, 2026
amfAR Gala
amfAR Palm Beach returns on Saturday, March 28, 2026, for an evening supporting the foundation’s HIV/AIDS research initiatives. The 2026 gala features special performances by EGOT award-winner John Legend and multiple Grammy winner Gloria Gaynor, and is hosted by Christie Brinkley. Amy and Bret Baier will receive the evening’s Philanthropic Leadership Award. The black-tie event brings together major donors, cultural figures, and longtime supporters for one of Palm Beach’s most high-profile fundraising nights. Palm Beach is one of several amfAR international benefit galas being held this year, raising funding for biomedical research that drives advances in HIV/AIDS treatment and breakthroughs in other diseases.
- Where: Palm Beach, Florida
- When: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Mack, Jack & McConaughey
The Mack, Jack, & McConaughey Gala gets its name from renowned college football coach Mack Brown, country musician Jack Ingram, and Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey. Funds from this event go to various community nonprofits dedicated to children’s education, health, and wellness. Guests will enjoy a red carpet cocktail reception, dinner, live auction, and headlining concert. Previous year’s headers included country superstars Luke Combs, Garth Brooks, and Kenny Chesney.
- Where: Austin, TX
- When: April 23-24, 2026
Lyric Wine Auction
The Lyric Wine Auction is one of Chicago’s most established cultural fundraisers, supporting Lyric Opera of Chicago, a 2026 Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award winner. Hosted by the Women’s Board of Lyric Opera of Chicago, the multi-day fundraiser brings together collectors, vintners, and patrons for curated lots and high-level giving in support of Lyric’s artistic and education programs.
- Where: Chicago, Illinois
- When: May 8 – 9, 2026
Leukemia Ball
Don’t miss one of D.C.’s largest non-political black-tie events, the Leukemia Ball. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the National Executive Committee host this annual gala to support blood cancer research. In the last 30 years, the event has raised more than $74 million. More than 2,000 guests can enjoy dinner, dancing, inspirational programming, auctions, and headlining entertainment.
- Where: Washington D.C.
- When: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Tipping Point Gala
Spend the night focusing on nothing but the good happening throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area at the Tipping Point Gala. During the 2025 event, the Tipping Point Community raised a record-breaking $20 million for poverty-fighting nonprofits in the region. Nearly every year, this event hosts 1,000 donors to celebrate the wins and untold stories of the Bay Area, showcasing the power of community and working together.
- Where: San Francisco, California
- When: TBA, previously in May
HRC National Dinner
The Human Rights Campaign’s Annual Dinner celebrates local leadership working to bring LGBTQ+ equality nationwide and make the country safer for LGBTAQ+ individuals.
- Where: Washington D.C.
- Date: 2026 TBA, previously September
- Tickets: Starting at $450 for general admission
Angel Ball
The Angel Ball is the signature fundraising gala for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation. This star-studded event raises 88 cents on every dollar for cancer research, working to find non-toxic treatments for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers. This event also honors individuals who have made significant humanitarian and philanthropic contributions supporting cancer research.
- Where: New York City
- When: 2026 date TBA, previously November
Healing New York 2026 Fall Gala
Healing New York, formerly The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, hosts its annual fall gala, bringing together civic leaders, philanthropists, and advocates in support of child protection and family services. Proceeds benefit the organization’s trauma recovery programs, parenting and caregiver support, and school-based abuse prevention initiatives, which collectively serve more than 10,000 children, caregivers, and professionals each year.
- Where: New York City
- When: 2026 Date TBA, previously November
Improvisations Gala
The New Orleans Jazz Museum’s Improvisations Gala brings together live music, immersive entertainment, food and cocktails, and a fundraising auction inside the museum’s historic French Quarter home. The annual event supports the museum’s mission to preserve and celebrate the city’s musical legacy while convening civic and cultural leaders for an evening rooted in performance and philanthropy.
- Where: New Orleans
- When: 2026 Date TBA, previously December
Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries
Hosted annually by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Under the Oculus honors influential leaders in art, culture, and philanthropy whose work reflects the museum’s commitment to creativity and innovation. The evening typically includes a private exhibition viewing, a seated dinner by a notable chef, and a live performance beneath the museum’s iconic rotunda, with proceeds supporting exhibitions, education initiatives, and collection preservation.
- Where: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City
- When: 2026 Date TBD, previously December
UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball – Atlanta
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The glamorous Mayor’s Masked Ball is one of Atlanta’s signature fundraising galas, raising awareness and support for the United Negro College Fund. UNCF has supported more than 550,000 students in earning college degrees and is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider for minority students, awarding over $62 million annually to students at more than 600 institutions, including 37 historically Black colleges and universities (HCBUs).
- Where: Atlanta, Georgia
- When: 2026 date TBA, previously December
2027
Barrow Grand Ball
Held annually by the Women’s Board of Barrow Neurological Foundation, the Barrow Grand Ball is one of the country’s most significant medical research fundraisers. Since its founding in 1965, the event has raised more than $135 million to advance neuroscience research and innovative treatments at Barrow Neurological Institute, drawing major donors and national attention to breakthroughs in stroke, dementia, spinal disorders, and brain tumor care.
- Where: Phoenix, AZ
- When: 2027 Date TBA, previously January
San Francisco Ballet’s Opening Night Gala
San Francisco Ballet’s Opening Night Gala kicks off the ballet’s season while supporting the San Francisco Ballet’s mission of sharing joy through dance. Funds support new creative works and the preservation of classics, plus scholarships to aspiring SF Ballet students and programming for thousands of Bay Area students, families, and seniors.
- Where: San Francisco, CA
- When: 2027 Date TBA, previously January
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Jeanne Cooper, former San Francisco Chronicle Travel editor, writes frequently about the Wine Country for Marin Magazine and other publications. She is particularly fond of wines from the Alexander and Dry Creek valleys. She supports ongoing work of Ecumenical Hunger Project in East Palo Alto and the disaster response efforts of World Central Kitchen and San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
