EJAE, Hayley Kiyoko, Bowen Yang and More Mark Gold House’s 2026 Gold Gala in Los Angeles

The Gold Gala returned to downtown Los Angeles on May 9 for its fifth edition, turning The Music Center into a yearly snapshot of just how broad Gold House’s cultural reach has become. The event gathered celebrities and industry figures to honor Asian Pacific and multicultural changemakers, with the night anchored by the unveiling of Gold House’s 2026 Gold100 List, which recognizes the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders of the past year.

Among the guests were EJAE, Bowen Yang, Hayley Kiyoko, H.E.R., GIRLSET, Halsey, Simu Liu, Charles Melton, Eileen Gu, Jet Li, Chloé Zhao, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. That lineup alone says something about where the gala sits now: less as a niche industry function and more as a cross-section of entertainment, sport and prestige culture gathered under one roof.

The honors themselves carried a familiar Gold House emphasis on visibility and influence, but the categories also reflected how the organization continues to frame Asian Pacific success across different lanes. Priyanka Chopra Jonas received the inaugural Global vanguard honor, Charles Melton was given the Gold artistic achievement honor for Beef season two, Eileen Gu took the Gold impact award, Simu Liu received the Gold mogul award for Avengers: Doomsday, and Jet Li was saluted with the Gold legend award for his work as a martial arts icon, actor and philanthropist.

There were performances too, and they fit the event’s mix of celebration and industry signaling. Hayley Kiyoko performed “Girls Like Girls” with ARKAI and Lindsey Stirling as she headed toward the release of her directorial debut. H.E.R. appeared alongside actress Liza Soberano to preview their upcoming film, Forgotten Island, giving the gala the kind of first-look moment that keeps these awards shows tethered to current projects, not just red-carpet optics.

Ejae at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Variety

The night didn’t stop when the gala did. The Billboard x Gold House Founders Party followed, bringing performances from RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Nymphia Wind and Plastique Tiara, plus a DJ set from Joe Taslim, who was there in the middle of a post-gala circuit that also included a Maybelline New York-sponsored celebrity karaoke room. In one of those very Los Angeles details that feels both random and perfectly on-brand, KPop Demon Hunters filmmaker Maggie Kang joined Ross Butler and Saagar Shaikh for Linkin Park’s “In the End.”

H.E.R. at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Chad Salvador/WWD

Even before the gala, Gold House had already been doing what these events increasingly do best: turning cultural identity into a social conversation rather than a static tribute. Billboard caught up with several attendees about favorite foods from their cultures. Kiyoko pointed to sukiyaki, the Japanese hot pot dish. H.E.R. highlighted halo-halo. Chopra Jonas suggested Indian chutney, while Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying and husband Mark Hoying recommended traditional Filipino rice cake.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Variety

Hayley Kiyoko at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Chad Salvador/WWD

Camila Ribeaux Valdes, Kendall Ebeling, Lexi Vang and Savanna Collins of GIRLSET at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Variety

Halsey at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Variety

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala held at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Chad Salvador/WWD

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