The 2026 Gold Gala was a star-studded affair, celebrating Asian Pacific changemakers across industries. The event, held at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles, featured a diverse range of talents, from actors and musicians to athletes and business leaders. The gala, previously dubbed the 'Asian Met Gala', was a glitzy celebration that showcased the achievements of those making a positive impact in their respective fields.
One of the highlights of the evening was the tongue-in-cheek kick-off speech by Gold House co-founder and CEO, who playfully called out some of the night's biggest stars, reminding them to get to their seats. The comedian's routine elicited laughter and effectively got the chatty guests to find their places.
The program kicked off with remarks from Bowen Young, a Saturday Night Live alum, who delivered a part-celebration, part-roast introduction. Young joked about being part of a 'group audition for Beef season three', with the show's creator, Lee Sung Jin, in attendance. He also took a playful dig at Chen, likening the founder's dating life to the nearby Chinatown neighborhood.
Yang, another comedian, celebrated the API community's wins and failures, pondering if the community had moved past representation and into ownership. He made a humorous reference to white women's obsession with Mahjong, met with laughter from the crowd.
The entertainment and media honorees were introduced by KPop Demon Hunters star EJAE, who presented a video showcasing the achievements of figures like Hudson Williams, Kehlani, Laufey, Lola Young, Lola Tung, Chloe Zhao, and KATSEYE.
Several honourees received awards onstage. Simu Liu was presented with the Gold Mogul honor by filmmakers Destin Daniel Cretton and James Wan. Eileen Gu, the most decorated freestyle skier, accepted the Gold Impact honor, presented by WNBA star Candace Parker and EVP and chief customer officer of Marriott International, Peggy Roe. Priyanka Chopra Jonas received the inaugural Global Vanguard Honor, while Revathi Advaithi, CEO of Flex, received the inaugural Forbes Gold honor.
Charles Melton, who plays Austin in season two of Beef, was presented with the inaugural Gold Artistic Achievement honor by Beef creator Lee Sung Jin and actress Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Jet Li, a legendary martial artist and actor, received the Gold Legend honor award, introduced by Maggie Q and Terry Crews. Li's daughter, Jane Li, and the daughter of Bruce Lee, Shannon Lee, joined him on stage.
Li emphasized the importance of living a happy and healthy life, urging the crowd to take care of their physical and mental health. He expressed his commitment to helping people throughout his life.
Chen closed out the night with an impassioned speech about community and loneliness, ushering the crowd into the afterparty with a needle drop and streamer blast to KATSEYE's 'Pinky Up'. Yang, the most excited in the crowd, performed the girl group's choreography in his seat.
The 2026 Gold Gala was a celebration of talent, diversity, and the power of representation. It showcased the achievements of individuals who are making a positive impact in their respective fields, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
