We Were There: MoMA’s Party in the Garden 2026
By Maureen Martin | June 12, 2026 | Celebrity Encounters
For me, summer in New York doesn’t officially begin until we party in the garden. New Yorkers can be super serious and career-focused, but a chance to “play” and dance in a garden at night is deliciously decadent. Big toast to MoMA’s Party in the Garden.
Betye Saar
Every year, this iconic evening reminds me why New York remains one of the most exciting cultural capitals in the world. It’s a beautiful intersection of art, philanthropy, fashion, and community wrapped into one unforgettable night. This year’s celebration returned in full force, honoring legendary artists Betye Saar and Martin Puryear, as well as philanthropist Jo Carole Lauder.
The evening began inside the museum at a gorgeous gala dinner, where art-world luminaries, collectors, patrons, cultural leaders and our own fearless chief editor, Delaina Dixon and Alvin Hall, art aficionado and producer/writer of The Lorraine, gathered for an elegant dinner amid some of the world’s most celebrated works of art.
The annual benefit supports the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibitions, collection stewardship, educational programming, and community engagement initiatives, making it one of the city’s most meaningful cultural gatherings. Saar humbly accepted her honor just weeks before her 100th birthday.
Ah-Niyah Gold, Miranda De Jong, Monafide and Chris Rock.
This year’s crowd was particularly impressive. Among those in attendance were museum leaders Christophe Cherix, Sarah Arison, and Marie-Josée Kravis, as well as celebrated artists including Derrick Adams, Firelei Báez, KAWS, Anna Deavere Smith, Rashid Johnson, Glenn Ligon, Julie Mehretu, Hank Willis Thomas, and Carrie Mae Weems. Patrons and cultural figures such as Michael Bloomberg, Susan Rockefeller, Lizzie Tisch, Thelma Golden, Antwaun Sargent, designer Wes Gordon, comedian Chris Rock, and cultural commentator Tefi Pessoa added to the evening’s vibrant energy.
But for me, the magic truly begins after dessert, at the after-party.
That’s when hundreds of additional guests arrive, and the celebration spills into the breathtaking Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden.
Under the glow of evening light and surrounded by towering sculptures and lush greenery, the garden transforms into one of the chicest party venues in New York. Conversations flow between generations of artists, collectors, philanthropists, and creative visionaries. Everywhere you turn, there’s a fabulous outfit, an unexpected reunion, a photo-worthy backdrop, or a fascinating conversation about art and culture.
Guests migrated through the sculpture garden, where flashing light installations illuminated the landscape, and a whimsical cotton-candy stand delighted attendees near the bar. The atmosphere felt equal parts sophisticated and playful, a combination New York does particularly well. Can I tell you that every year that I attend, I make at least one new friend and discover the next big music personality!
The highlight of the evening was a series of high-energy DJ sets from Tinashe and Rebecca Black, who transformed the sculpture garden into an open-air dance floor beneath the stars. Seeing guests dance among world-class art installations felt uniquely New York and completely unforgettable.
As a soft girl, I’ve learned that luxury isn’t always about exclusivity. Sometimes luxury is being surrounded by people who care deeply about beauty, creativity, and culture.
It’s sipping a cocktail beneath the trees while discussing art with a stranger who quickly becomes a friend. It’s dressing up simply because the occasion deserves it. It’s celebrating the institutions and artists that help make our city extraordinary.
For one magical evening each year, MoMA’s Sculpture Garden becomes the center of the cultural universe.
And that’s why, year after year, Party in the Garden remains my favorite event of the summer season—and the moment summer officially begins.
Photo credits: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Museum of Modern Art
