Theron, Domingo and Carpenter honoured as Swift takes stage at Academy Museum Gala
Taylor Swift was set to perform as Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo and John Carpenter were honoured at the sixth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on October 17, 2026.
The evening took place at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, and benefits the museum, according to Variety. That makes it both a celebration and a fundraiser. This year's edition was presented by Rolex.
The co-chairs were film-maker Robert Rodriguez, film-maker Steven Spielberg and producer Kate Capshaw. Co-chairs help lead the planning and lend their names to the guest list. Their roles put three well-known Hollywood figures at the top of the invitation.
Theron received the Icon Award. Domingo received the Vantage Award. Carpenter, the director behind Halloween and The Thing, received the Luminary Award. The three honours recognise different kinds of screen careers, from acting to directing.
Swift was listed as the performer for the night. She did not receive an award this year. Her set closed a programme built around the three honourees.
The expected red carpet was crowded. Names circulated in advance included Swift, Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, Kim Kardashian, Jacob Elordi, Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Sabrina Carpenter, Janelle Monáe, Pamela Anderson, Charles Melton, Alexander Skarsgård, Rosé, Nia Long, McKenna Grace, Drew Starkey, Connor Storrie, Inde Navarrette and Tom Ford.
arrivals documented in Variety's gallery included Navarrette, Mia Goth, Anderson, Kristen Wiig, Laura Linney, Brittany Snow, Anna Kendrick, and Adrien Brody with Georgina Chapman. The gallery tracked the entrances as the night began.
For fans, this means more than one night of photographs. The museum runs a Gala Screenings series of screenings and one-on-one conversations celebrating the year's honourees, according to the museum.
Two years earlier, the fourth annual gala honoured Quentin Tarantino, Paul Mescal and Rita Moreno and raised $11 million, according to Variety. That figure shows the scale the fundraiser has reached. No total has been reported yet for the 2026 edition.
