LACMA's Art+Film Gala Raises a Record $7 Million as Denis Villeneuve and Vija Celmins Take Centre Stage

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Museum of Art's biggest night of the year ended with a record. The 15th annual Art+Film Gala, held on Saturday, 7 November 2026, raised nearly $7 million — the most in the event's history — as more than 600 guests gathered beneath the glowing lamps of Chris Burden's "Urban Light" to honour artist Vija Celmins and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.

The total broke last year's record of $6.5 million, according to the Los Angeles Times, and pushed the gala's cumulative fundraising since its inception in 2011 to close to $60 million. The money will support LACMA's initiative to make film more central to its curatorial programming, as well as the museum's broader mission.

It was a night of endings as well as records. Eva Chow, the LACMA trustee who has co-chaired the gala with Leonardo DiCaprio since it began, took the stage to announce that this would be her final year in the role after 15 years. The evening also belonged to its two honorees: Celmins, 88, whose meticulous paintings of night skies, desert sands and ocean waves, and Villeneuve, the director of "Dune" who is now preparing to take on James Bond.

Illustration: Guests arrive beneath glowing vintage street lamps at a museum gala entrance — the scene that greeted arrivals at LACMA's 15th annual Art+Film Gala on 7 November 2026.

What Happened

By 6 p.m. on Saturday, guests had begun arriving beneath the 202 vintage street lamps of Chris Burden's "Urban Light", the iconic installation that frames LACMA's entrance. The crowd was a cross-section of Hollywood, the art world and fashion: Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro, Salma Hayek Pinault, Parker Posey, Sarah Paulson, Sienna Miller, Emily Ratajkowski and Viola Davis were among those in attendance.

Inside a large tent in the museum's backyard, the evening unfolded as a cocktail reception and dinner hosted by the gala's co-chairs. The programme honoured Celmins and Villeneuve in turn, with films, speeches and tributes — and, after dinner, a live performance by BLACKPINK's Rosé, introduced by Paris Hilton.

Rosé performed on a stage below the Geffen Galleries, with Henri Matisse's "La Gerbe" visible through the windows above. Her set opened with the live debut of her new single, "New Trick", followed by "Number One Girl", a cover of The Killers' "Read My Mind" and her global hit "APT."

The most personal moment of the night belonged to Eva Chow. Taking the stage in a flowing white Gucci gown, she told the audience it would be her final year serving as co-chair after 15 wonderful years. Chow has co-chaired the gala with DiCaprio since its inception in 2011. According to the Los Angeles Times, she estimated that during her tenure the gala has raised close to $60 million, and LACMA has begun searching for a successor.

Celmins was introduced onstage by the writer Rachel Kushner, who warned against romanticising the artist. "It is tempting to project romantic and cowboy notions of earth and sky and purity onto Vija Celmins, of artist as seer and monk," Kushner said. A short film by LACMA's Erin Wright took viewers inside Celmins' New York studio, and the artist quipped onstage: "Why did I let them in my studio?" before adding, "It's a pleasure to be here. You guys are just crazy party people."

Villeneuve's tribute came from Nicole Kidman, who flew 15 hours from Australia to deliver it despite never having formally met the director. Kidman, who has not worked with Villeneuve, cheekily referenced her viral AMC Theatres advertisement. "His films explore the great mysteries of our existence: time, memory, identity, destiny," she said. "They are vast, they are mysterious, they are sometimes terrifying, but they are always profoundly human."

Villeneuve returned the admiration, telling Celmins: "In your work, you stop the seas and the stars long enough for us to truly see them." He spoke of his respect for painters and sculptors, and of what it meant for a museum to put a spotlight on cinema. "Film carries the burden of being popular in the present, but at the end of the day, the real challenge is to make something that can endure the test of time, like Vija does with her masterful work," he said.

Then came the joke that brought the room to its feet. "And to express my gratitude, with the blessing of my new friends at Amazon, I will reveal to you tonight… who will be the next James Bond," Villeneuve said, as the audience gasped. "The actor who will play the next James Bond is — and I will stop right now because Amy Pascal is about to have a heart attack." Villeneuve is set to direct the next Bond film for Amazon MGM Studios, and the search for Daniel Craig's successor is one of Hollywood's most closely watched casting processes.

Illustration: A formal gala dinner beneath a candlelit tent, with a stage set for tributes — the setting for the speeches and performances at LACMA's Art+Film Gala.

Background

The Art+Film Gala was created in 2011 to knit together the twin strands of Los Angeles' artistic and film communities — and to raise money for the museum. The inaugural gala honoured Clint Eastwood and the artist John Baldessari, with Stevie Wonder performing, and Gucci has been the event's presenting sponsor since that first night. Over 15 years it has grown from a museum fundraiser into a fixture of the city's cultural calendar.

This year's honorees embodied the gala's two halves. Celmins, 88, is known for her meticulous re-creations of natural imagery — night skies, desert sands and ocean waves, and stars — in paintings, drawings and prints. Born in Latvia, she fled with her family to Germany during the Soviet occupation, then immigrated to Indiana before moving to Los Angeles for her MFA at UCLA.

Villeneuve is one of the most sought-after directors working today. His "Dune" films have turned Frank Herbert's novels into a defining blockbuster saga, and he is now finishing "Dune: Part Three", due in cinemas on 18 December 2026. He is also the director chosen to relaunch James Bond under Amazon MGM Studios. On the red carpet, asked by Variety about the search for the next 007, Villeneuve declined specifics — "I should not comment right now because every word I'm going to say is going to be scrutinized" — but added: "I would just say that I'm having a great time."

Reports published on Friday, 6 November, said the search is nearing its endgame. According to Variety, Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have screen-tested for the role, joining previously reported contenders Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor and Jack Lowden. The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline reported the same five names. Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment, and no official casting announcement has been made.

Gucci's role in the night was impossible to miss. The house has presented the gala since its inception, and this year its artistic director Demna — attending his second LACMA gala since joining Gucci — was joined by house president and chief executive Francesca Bellettini and Kering chairman François-Henri Pinault. Many guests wore Gucci on the red carpet, which runs in front of the "Urban Light" lamps.

The gala also served as a showcase for LACMA at a moment of transformation. The museum's director, Michael Govan, told the audience: "It's been an unforgettable year at LACMA. Same tent, but everything around it — you've seen the little building we built, the David Geffen Galleries. It's a new beginning for LACMA, honestly, and there's so much more to come." Previous honorees Barbara Kruger, Cathy Opie, Ed Ruscha and Helen Pashgian also attended.

Why It Matters

The record haul matters first of all because of what it funds. LACMA has made film a central part of its curatorial identity, and the gala's proceeds directly support that push — alongside the museum's broader mission. A single evening raising nearly $7 million, up from $6.5 million last year, is a powerful signal of donor confidence.

Eva Chow's departure marks the end of an era for the event. She has co-chaired the gala since its first edition, and the close to $60 million raised under her watch is a legacy few fundraisers can claim. Whoever succeeds her will inherit one of the most valuable cultural brands in Los Angeles — and the challenge of keeping it growing after a record year. The search for a new co-chair is already under way, according to reports.

The night also mattered for what it revealed about Hollywood's most open secret. Villeneuve's Bond joke worked because the room knew the stakes: the next 007 will define the franchise's first chapter under Amazon. With reported finalists including two of the biggest movie stars in the world — Pattinson, who also stars in Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Three" — the casting decision, when it comes, will be one of the biggest entertainment stories of the year. And Rosé's live debut of "New Trick" turned a museum benefit into a music event, showing how the gala has become a meeting point for cultures that rarely share a room.

Illustration: A film reel unspooling into a starry sky above desert dunes and ocean waves — a tribute to the art of Vija Celmins and the cinema of Denis Villeneuve, the two worlds the gala brings together.

What Happens Next

The immediate next step for LACMA is the search for Eva Chow's successor as co-chair. The museum has begun looking for someone to work alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, and the appointment — expected in the coming months — will set the tone for the 16th gala in 2027. The record $7 million also sets a new bar: next year's event will be measured against it.

For the museum, the focus now shifts to the new spaces the gala helped fund. Vanity Fair's "Screening Room" series opens at the Steve Tisch Theater next weekend, and Diana Thater's permanent video installation on the Wilshire Boulevard bridge is on its way.

For Villeneuve, the calendar is crowded. "Dune: Part Three" arrives in cinemas on 18 December 2026. Once that release is behind him, his attention will turn fully to Bond — and the casting decision the whole industry is waiting for. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman are reported to be closing in on a choice, and an announcement is expected before the end of the year.

And for the gala itself, the question is whether a record night can become a new normal. Fifteen years in, the event has outgrown its origins as a museum fundraiser and become a fixture of Los Angeles culture. With a new co-chair to find, a new building to fill and a record to defend, the 16th Art+Film Gala already has its work cut out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money did the 2026 LACMA Art+Film Gala raise?

The 15th annual LACMA Art+Film Gala, held on Saturday, 7 November 2026, raised a record nearly $7 million, breaking last year's record of $6.5 million. The money supports LACMA's initiative to make film more central to its curatorial programming, as well as the museum's broader mission.

Who were the honorees at the 2026 LACMA Art+Film Gala?

The evening honoured artist Vija Celmins, 88, known for her meticulous re-creations of natural imagery such as night skies, desert sands and ocean waves, and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, director of the "Dune" films and the upcoming James Bond film. Celmins was introduced by writer Rachel Kushner, and Villeneuve was introduced by Nicole Kidman.

Why is Eva Chow stepping down as co-chair?

Eva Chow announced on stage at the 2026 gala that it would be her final year as co-chair after 15 years. She has co-chaired the event with Leonardo DiCaprio since its inception in 2011. LACMA has begun searching for a successor.

What did Rosé perform at the LACMA Art+Film Gala?

BLACKPINK's Rosé, introduced by Paris Hilton, performed the live debut of her new single "New Trick", along with "Number One Girl", a cover of The Killers' "Read My Mind" and her hit "APT." She performed on a stage below the Geffen Galleries, with Matisse's "La Gerbe" visible through the windows above.

Who is reported to be in the running to play the next James Bond?

According to reports by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline on 6 November 2026, the reported finalists include Robert Pattinson, Nicholas Hoult, Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor and Jack Lowden, all of whom are reported to have screen-tested for director Denis Villeneuve. Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment and no official casting announcement has been made.

Sources

• Los Angeles Times, 8 November 2026 — "Denis Villeneuve and Vija Celmins honored at LACMA's Art + Film gala" (gala fundraising, honorees, Chow's announcement, speeches, guests)
• W Magazine, 8 November 2026 — "At the LACMA Art+Film Gala 2026, Demna's Gucci Steps Into the Spotlight" — https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/lacma-art-film-gala-2026-gucci-photos
• Variety, 6 November 2026 — "Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult Emerge as Late Contenders for James Bond" (Bond screen tests; Villeneuve's "having a great time" red-carpet remark, 8 November 2026)
• The Hollywood Reporter, 6 November 2026 — "Robert Pattinson, Nicholas Hoult Screen-Tested for James Bond" (Bond screen tests; tests held weekend of 24 October)
• Deadline, 6 November 2026 — "Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult Among Final Bond Screen Tests" (five-actor final test group; decision expected before Thanksgiving)
• Just Jared, 8 November 2026 — "Inside Photos from the LACMA Art + Film Gala 2026: Andrew Garfield & Monica Barbaro Hold Hands, Rosé Performs & More" — https://www.justjared.com/2026/11/08/inside-photos-from-the-lacma-art-film-gala-2026-andrew-garfield-monica-barbaro-hold-hands-rose-performs-more-see-all-the-pics/