The Academy Museum Gala once again brought out some of Hollywood’s biggest names for its annual fundraising event on Saturday, this year raising over $14 million and landing Taylor Swift as its headlining performer.
The sixth annual event — which is put on in partnership with Rolex and supports the museum’s exhibitions, education initiatives and public programming — handed out special awards to Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo and John Carpenter, while also welcoming a slew of A-listers to back up its nickname as the “Met Gala of the West Coast.”
The gala was co-chaired by Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, and saw Jamie Lee Curtis and Rodriguez present Carpenter with the Luminary Award. Sigourney Weaver was on hand to present the Icon Award to Theron, and following dinner, Judd Apatow and Ford gave the Vantage Award to Domingo.
To close out the evening, Conan O’Brien introduced Swift for her performance (as both were involved in Toy Story 5), with the star breaking out renditions of “Blank Space,” “Love Story,” “The Fate of Ophelia” and Toy Story original song “I Knew It, I Knew You.” The latter tune she is currently pushing for best original song at the Oscars.
The gala has quickly become a major stop on the awards season campaign trail, with many in attendance laying the ground work for a golden statue in March. The cast and creatives behind La Bola Negra, You Can See Everything, Obsession and Project Hail Mary were all present, though it was a surprisingly light showing from the A-list teams of The Odyssey and the upcoming Dune: Part Three.
Upon arrival at the event, stars posed against a backdrop themed to The Horror Show, the museum’s new horror-themed exhibit. Carpenter — whose honor was tied to the exhibit and his contributions to it, was the very first to arrive — flashing rock-on signs and playing around with photographers.
Swift was expected to be among the very last to arrive, as typically at these events the rule is the bigger the name, the later the arrival. However, the superstar hit the carpet midway through the event and was spotted mingling in the cocktail reception area, catching up with Dakota and Elle Fanning right as they finished up photos. (Swift was also spotted keeping close to friends Sabrina Carpenter and Cara Delevingne once inside.)
Those closing down the carpet included Heated Rivalry‘s Connor Storrie, Teyana Taylor, Jodie Turner-Smith and the Kardashian-Jenners, who have a tradition of wrapping up the event every year. This time, Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner stopped for photos while Jenner’s boyfriend Jacob Elordi stood back and recorded video of her posing on his phone. After the famous sisters had cleared the step-and-repeat, Elordi quickly stood his own images before meeting up with the group again — out of sight of photographers (at least until they got inside).
On top of the industry heavy-hitters, the night was also the place to be for Hollywood up-and-comers, with Curry Barker, Inde Navarrette, Kane Parsons, Belmont Cameli, Stephen Kalyn, Mckenna Grace and Alexa Demie all in attendance.
Also present was much of the Academy Museum Gala host committee, which included Jessica Alba, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman, Jon M. Chu, Kirsten Dunst, Nicholas Galitzine, Ludwig and Serena Göransson, Regina Hall, Kate Hudson, Jessica Lange, Greta Lee, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Rami Malek, Demi Moore, Olivia Munn, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Questlove, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, Bird Runningwater and Teyana Taylor.
