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Chicago isn’t simply known for culture, it defines it.
Home to world-renowned architecture, legendary sports franchises, Michelin-starred restaurants, acclaimed museums, groundbreaking music, and generations of artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators, Chicago has long stood among the world’s great cultural cities. From the birthplace of house music and electric blues to a skyline recognized across the globe, Chicago’s influence extends far beyond city limits.
But Chicago’s greatest contribution has never been its landmarks.
It’s the people.
The artists. The builders. The entrepreneurs. The visionaries. The community leaders whose work continues to leave an imprint on the city every single day.
That’s exactly who the Chicago Culture Ball was created to celebrate.
Returning Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Obama Presidential Center, the Chicago Culture Ball is more than one of the city’s premier black-tie events. It’s an annual celebration of the people, ideas, and institutions that continue to define what Chicago represents.
Chicago, On Its Best Night
Every city has its signature moments.
For Chicago, the Culture Ball has become one of them. Since its inaugural celebration in Spring 2019, the event has brought together artists, entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, civic leaders, philanthropists, and tastemakers for one evening dedicated to honoring the city’s extraordinary talent.
It’s where creativity meets commerce. Where culture meets community. Where conversations become collaborations. And where the people building Chicago’s future are recognized in front of the city they continue to inspire.
A Historic Year at the Obama Presidential Center
This year’s celebration marks the first Chicago Culture Ball hosted at the Obama Presidential Center, making the 2026 event one of the most significant in the organization’s history.
Few venues better reflect the spirit of the evening.
The Obama Presidential Center stands as a place dedicated to leadership, service, education, and civic engagement—values that mirror the mission of Chicago Culture Ball itself.
Hosting this year’s celebration there signals how far the event has come since its inaugural gathering in Spring 2019.
Honoring the People Behind Chicago’s Influence
Each year, Chicago Culture Ball recognizes individuals whose work continues to elevate Chicago across industries.
The 2026 honoree class reflects the depth and diversity of the city’s creative and entrepreneurial excellence.
Among this year’s honorees are:
- Hebru Brantley, the internationally acclaimed contemporary artist whose Flyboy universe has become one of the defining visual languages of modern Black art.
- Kim Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of Listener Brands, whose entrepreneurial journey transformed CurlMix into one of the country’s most successful Black-owned beauty companies.
- Resa B. Luster-Mac, third-generation steward of the iconic Luster Products legacy and a champion for financial literacy through the Maconomics Foundation.
- Darrell Spencer, founder of Crowned Skin, who left careers at Google, Meta, LinkedIn, and Pinterest to build an eight-figure men’s grooming brand changing the landscape of skincare.
Additional honorees will be announced in the weeks leading up to the Ball.
Together, they represent the ambition, innovation, creativity, and leadership that continue to define Chicago.
Hosts Who Embody Chicago
This year’s celebration will be guided by two dynamic voices whose careers have helped expand Chicago’s influence far beyond the city.
Bri Hall (Ballinois Bri)
A sports marketer, creative strategist, and community builder, Ballinois Bri has spent her career connecting sport, culture, and community.
From leading initiatives at Jordan Brand to producing experiences around NBA All-Star Weekend, championing NIL athletes, hosting Chicago Bulls programming, and now serving as Sports Sponsorship Manager at TISSOT, Bri represents a new generation of Chicago leadership built on access, creativity, and purpose.
Charles Kuykendoll
Known to many as Charles Beloved, Kuykendoll has become one of the country’s most respected cultural strategists.
As the founder of Charles Beloved Productions, host of RNB House Party and The Oxtail Off, moderator at AfroTech and ESSENCE Festival of Culture, and co-host of the For Better or Best podcast, Charles has built a career creating spaces where culture, storytelling, and community intersect.
As both an honoree and host, he’ll help lead an evening dedicated to celebrating Chicago at its highest level.
More Than a Gala
One of the defining characteristics of Chicago Culture Ball isn’t simply the program.
It’s the room.
Artists sit alongside entrepreneurs. Corporate executives reconnect with community leaders. Collectors discover emerging creatives. Founders meet future collaborators. The evening creates an environment where meaningful relationships happen naturally, something increasingly rare in today’s event landscape.
It’s one of the few nights each year that reflects the full breadth of Chicago’s cultural ecosystem.
Chicago Culture Ball is where the city comes together.
Not just for one night, but to remind us that the city’s greatest landmark has always been the people who continue to build it.
Join Us
On Saturday, August 15, 2026, Chicago Culture Ball returns for its most ambitious celebration yet at the Obama Presidential Center.
Whether you’re coming to celebrate this year’s remarkable honorees, experience one of Chicago’s premier black-tie events, or connect with the city’s most influential creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders, this year’s Ball promises to be one of the defining cultural moments of the year.
General Admission, VIP tickets, tables, and Sponsorship opportunities are available now.
Join us as we celebrate the city and the people who continue to make it one of the greatest cultural capitals in the world.