Festival Napa Valley Raises Record $6.5 Million at 20th Anniversary Arts for All Gala

Event: Arts for All Gala
Date: July 12, 2026
Location: Nickel & Nickel, Oakville
Photos: Drew Altizer & Mahelly Ferreira for Drew Altizer Photography

Festival Napa Valley marked its 20th anniversary with a record-breaking Arts for All Gala on Sunday, July 12, raising an unprecedented $6.5 million to support its year-round education, scholarship, and community initiatives. Held at Nickel & Nickel, part of Far Niente Wine Estates, the Gala brought together philanthropists, artists, vintners, and civic leaders in a celebration of music, generosity, and shared purpose.

The evening included a performance by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis and the Wynton Marsalis Septet, a live auction led by Lydia Fenet, and dinner by chef Dustin Valette paired with wines from Nickel & Nickel, Bella Union Winery, and Dolce. In a surprise moment, Grammy Award-winning violinist Nick Kendall of Time for Three joined the Young People’s Chorus of New York City for a performance of “You Will Be Found.”

“The Arts for All Gala hit all the right notes this year,” said Gala Chair Mary Beth Shimmon. “It was an inspiring evening of extraordinary artistry and remarkable generosity, united by a shared belief in music’s power to transform lives.”

Over the past twenty years, the Gala has raised more than $40 million. Since its founding, Festival Napa Valley has awarded more than 1,000 scholarships, presented over 2,000 performances and educational programs, supported 3,500 artists, and welcomed audiences exceeding 160,000. Through Arts for All, more than 150,000 children, veterans, and seniors have participated in programs serving every Napa County public school and Boys & Girls Club.

Auction highlights included: private access to Egypt’s ancient wonders with archaeologist Kathleen Martínez, the evening’s top lot at approximately $1.2 million; a Paris and Bordeaux journey featuring the world premiere of “The Judgment of Paris” at the Palace of Versailles, raising $940,000; and a private Mustique escape at Toucan Hill, which drew the evening’s highest individual bid at $190,000.

The evening concluded with a Fund A Need paddle raise generating more than $1 million for Arts for All education, scholarship, and Music & Wellness programs, including $100,000 leadership gifts each from Maria Manetti Shrem and Mary Beth and David Shimmon.

Festival Napa Valley’s 20th Anniversary Season continues through July 19, 2026. The 2027 Arts for All Gala will take place Sunday, July 18, 2027.
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​Notable attendees:
​Nick Kendall – Grammy Award-winning violinist, Time for Three, Charles Letourneau – Festival Napa Valley, Vice President, Director of Artistic Planning, Wynton Marsalis – Trumpeter, composer, and American cultural ambassador, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita, and Paul Pelosi, businessman, ​David Shimmon, Festival Napa Valley Board of Directors and ​ Mary Beth Shimmon, Gala Chair, ​Maria Manetti Shrem – Philanthropist, Chef Dustin Valette – Chef-owner of Valette and The Matheson in Healdsburg, Rick Walker – Festival Napa Valley, President/CEO, Mauro Aprile Zanetti, Festival Napa Valley Brand Strategy Consultant and Eva Zanetti, Founder and CEO of Bloom17