American Ballet Theatre will honor Cynthia Erivo at its 2026 Fall Gala: Angels and Demons on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, according to Billboard.
Erivo is a Grammy, Daytime Emmy and Tony Award winner, and she has been nominated for three Academy Awards. She earned broad recognition for playing Elphaba in the Wicked films, and in 2025 she won her second Grammy for “Defying Gravity” from the first film, performed with Ariana Grande.
Earlier this year, Erivo returned to the West End in Dracula, where she played 23 characters in a one-woman production. She could also add a Primetime Emmy to her list by the time of the gala, since she has two nominations this year, according to Billboard.
American Ballet Theatre artistic director Susan Jaffe said in a statement that Erivo’s ability to transform through performance and connect with audiences makes her a meaningful honoree for the company. Erivo’s connection to ABT dates back to 2020, when she took part in the company’s first digital gala during the pandemic.
The gala’s program will include excerpts from Coppélia, Swan Lake, La Sylphide and Sylvia, along with performances of works by Frederick Ashton, Michel Fokine and Agnes de Mille. The event will end with dinner and dancing, and the Fall Gala remains ABT’s premier annual fundraising event.
