Bob Iger Named 2026 PAC NYC Icon of Culture
Bob Iger, the former chief executive of Disney, was named the 2026 PAC NYC Icon of Culture on Monday, October 27, at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City. The honour came at the organisation's Icons of Culture Gala, which Billboard reported on Tuesday.
The evening began at 6:00pm with cocktails, followed by a 7:30pm show and an after-party. Michael R. Bloomberg, chair of the board of PAC NYC, introduced Iger to the room.
The programme opened with Samara Joy, who sang "Stardust" and "Just in Time." Later, Austin Scott and Isaiah Johnson performed "One Last Time" from the musical Hamilton. Rufus Wainwright closed the show with "When You Wish Upon a Star," the song from Disney's Pinocchio.
Nick Jonas spoke in tribute to Iger. He did so on behalf of his brothers Joe and Kevin, who make up the Jonas Brothers. The gala also featured appearances and performances by Ariana DeBose, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, David Muir, Robin Roberts and Josh D'Amaro.
The gala is a fundraiser. PAC NYC says the Icons of Culture series has raised more than $10 million since it began. The organisation describes the 2026 event as a celebration of the artistic excellence of the Perelman Performing Arts Center, which hosts theatre, dance, music and other live performance in Lower Manhattan.
This was the third annual gala. The first, in 2024, honoured Tom Freston, a co-founder of MTV. In 2025, the event celebrated the fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Each year's honouree is chosen by the organisation and recognised at the gala.
For anyone who missed the evening, the lineup offers a clear picture of how the event works. It mixes a jazz singer, a Broadway cast, a stage star and a pop act with a broadcast journalist, a television host and a theatre team. The honouree, in this case, is the one who ties the threads together.
