Ballet performance honors stardom-themed gala at Irvine Barclay Theater on August 7th
Festival Ballet's 16th Annual Gala of the Stars: A Night of Ballet Magic
Get ready for an enchanting evening of ballet as Festival Ballet presents its 16th Annual Gala of the Stars on August 7, 2026, at the Irvine Barclay Theater on the UC Irvine campus.
The event begins at 6 pm with a showcase of promising young talent from the Southland Ballet Academy, under the direction of Festival Ballet Director Salwa Rizkalla. At 7 pm, audiences can watch a medley of classic and avant-garde ballet performances by star dancers from leading international ballet companies.
The performer lineup for the evening includes American Ballet Theater star Chloe Misseldine, known for her lead roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, and Like Water for Chocolate, and Julian Mackay, who has performed major roles such as the King of Illusions in John Neumeier’s Wie Schwanensee, James in La Sylphide, Romeo in Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, and Albrecht in Giselle.
The Gala presents both classical and avant-garde choreography performed by dazzling dancers from prestigious companies worldwide, along with alumni from Festival Ballet training programs.
While a detailed schedule beyond the 6 pm and 7 pm start times was not provided, additional aspects such as a dinner event or pre-Gala activities were mentioned for previous years' Galas but lack concrete details for 2026.
Don't miss this opportunity to witness an extraordinary night of ballet magic. Tickets for the performance can be purchased at thebarclay.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
[1] Festival Ballet's official press release [3] Festival Ballet's 2025 Gala program and press release
The community news will announce the details of Festival Ballet's 16th Annual Gala of the Stars on August 7, 2026, featuring entertainment by renowned ballet stars like Chloe Misseldine and Julian Mackay. Apart from the main performances at 6 pm and 7 pm, the event may also include entertainment events such as a dinner or pre-Gala activities like previous years, but the exact schedule is yet to be confirmed.
