Art Ball 2026: The Surreal

Saturday | May 9 | 140 W. Broad Ave. | 6:30 PM-??

On the cusp of its transformation into the new home of the Albany Museum of Art, the former Belk department store in downtown Albany will be the site of Art Ball 2026: The Surreal. The spectacular evening that weds the reality of today with the dreams and imagination of tomorrow begins at 6:30 pm on Saturday, May 9.

The AMA’s signature event, chaired by Meg Gentile and Jason Langer, will celebrate art and its transformative power with an event at the threshold of a bold new chapter of the Albany Museum of Art story.

Art Ball 2026: The Surreal promises to be a magical night filled with:

Fine dining as you indulge in a gourmet dinner prepared by Canterbury Catering;
Captivating entertainment by the band Mind Plays;
A live auction where you can bid on one-of-a-kind artworks, luxury experiences, and exclusive packages;
Décor creating the sense of being suspended between the reality of what is and the dreams of what will be.

While a joyful celebration, Art Ball plays an indispensable role as the Albany Museum of Art’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The black-tie-option event not only raises awareness about the AMA and its important work in the community, but it also raises vital funding that supports free admission for everyone, world-class traveling exhibitions, educational programming, art camps (including scholarships to reach more areas of the community), and more.

Donations made during the Wayne & Alicia Gregory Family Foundation Paddle Raise portion of the evening support the AMA’s educational programs, including scholarships to the museum’s popular seasonal art camps.

Tickets: $250 with a $50 discount for Contributor Level donors and above.

To purchase tickets, contact Development Director Chloe Hinton HERE.

Portal to Paradise

Your donation of $100 or more also enters you in an exciting raffle for a chance to win an amazing trip to New York City, Kentucky, California, or Italy! The raffle winner’s name will be drawn at Art Ball.

The more you give, the more opportunities you have to win. You get one chance for every $100 you donate.

You can donate HERE.

The lucky winner will be drawn at Art Ball 2026: The Surreal. You do not have to be present to win. Find out more about the trips that you can choose from HERE.

Get Ready for Mind Plays

Dance the night away at Art Ball to the music of an intense, pop/rock band originally from Amarillo, Texas—Mind Plays. You can find out more about the performers HERE.