On Thursday, November 12, 2026, The Metropolitan Museum of Art will open its doors for one extraordinary night as NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health presents its 2026 Masquerade Gala, headlined by an exclusive live performance from Kes, the Trinidad and Tobago superstars who have carried the sound of soca from Carnival to stages around the world. The evening begins at 6:30 PM.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261020813751/en/

Kes, the international soca superstar headlining Gotham Health’s 2026 Masquerade Gala (Photo credit: Jono Hirst for KestheBand)

Kes, the international soca superstar headlining Gotham Health’s 2026 Masquerade Gala (Photo credit: Jono Hirst for KestheBand)

Masks on, spirits high: the gala will unite New York’s leaders in healthcare, philanthropy, business, government and culture under one of the world’s most celebrated roofs for a night that blends glamour, music and meaning. Every ticket, table and sponsorship will fuel Gotham Health’s early childhood development programs and services for children and families across all five boroughs.

This is not a performance to hear about secondhand. Kes is famous for turning any room into Carnival, and on November 12 the band will bring that unmistakable energy inside one of New York City’s most iconic cultural institutions: island rhythm meets world-class art, in a pairing guests are unlikely ever to see again. The performance will be the centerpiece of the evening and a celebration of Gotham Health’s commitment to helping every child get the developmental support they need as early as possible.

A performance built for the moment

Fronted by the magnetic Kees Dieffenthaller, KestheBand has built a devoted international following with a sound that fuses soca, calypso, reggae, R&B and pop, among other genres. Anthems such as “Hello,” “Wotless” and “Savannah Grass” have become fixtures of Carnival celebrations and dance floors worldwide, and the band’s high-voltage live shows have made them one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated musical exports.

“When Kes takes the stage at the Met, all of New York is going to feel it,” said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “This is a night people will be talking about for years, and it is for a cause that will matter for generations. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and the support raised on November 12 will help us identify developmental needs earlier, connect families to care sooner and strengthen the services children need during the most important years of their development.”

Titled Every Child Thrives, this year’s masquerade gala will power Gotham Health’s Childhood Development Initiative, expanding access to developmental screening, early diagnosis, specialty pediatric care, integrated family support services and stronger referral pathways for children across New York City.

Saying hello to what’s possible

Fittingly, Kes’ global hit “Hello” captures the spirit of the evening. With this gala, Gotham Health is saying hello to a world of opportunity for families of children with developmental delays and disabilities: making specialized care easier to reach, connecting patients to the right services at the right time and advancing equity for communities that have too often gone without this care or been unable to afford it. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Gotham Health serves New Yorkers regardless of their ability to pay, and every dollar raised on November 12 will help ensure that a family’s zip code or income never determines a child’s future.

Your presence on November 12 will help fund:

  • Expansion of pediatric developmental and behavioral health services

  • Strengthening of early screening and diagnostic pathways

  • Recruitment and training of specialized pediatric clinicians

  • Advancement of clinical tools, technology and diagnostic capacity

  • Integrated family navigation and wraparound support services

Space at the Met is limited. Guests are encouraged to RSVP at team@gothamgala.org. Honorees, sponsorship opportunities and program highlights will be announced in the coming weeks.

Honorees, sponsorship opportunities and additional program highlights will be announced in the coming weeks. Don’t miss it.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health is a Federally Qualified Healthcare Provider formed in 2015 to enable individuals and families to address their health care needs in their own neighborhoods. Serving more than 100,000 New Yorkers annually in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens, Gotham Health consists of 29 healthcare sites in all five boroughs of New York City. Gotham Health provides easy-to-access, high-quality, affordable health care services with a focus on primary care. It is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and building healthy communities, with a focus upon providing patients and families convenient access to high-quality preventive care, such as annual check-ups and immunizations. Health care teams are trained to help patients manage ongoing conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media gallery

About The Author
Business Wire