The biennial benefit held on May 6, 2026 honored Michelle Yeoh and Wendy O’Neill, celebrating more than six decades of cultural exchange and global impact.
The Asian Cultural Council (ACC), a global nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing international dialogue, understanding, and respect through cultural exchange between the U.S. and Asia, announced it has raised$1,631,500at its 2026 Biennial Gala, held on Wednesday, May 6 at the Rainbow Room in New York City. The evening brought together artists, philanthropists, and cultural leaders to celebrate ACC's 63-year legacy of fostering worldwide connection.
"The success of this year's gala reflects our community’s deep commitment to cultural exchange,” stated Judy Kim, Executive Director, Asian Cultural Council. “The gala recognized two honorees whose careers and commitments exemplify that mission: Michelle Yeoh and Wendy O’Neill. Michelle has redefined what is possible for Asian artists on the world stage, using her platform as an actress and global advocate to champion greater representation, cultural understanding, and artistic excellence. Wendy, through more than fifteen years of visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to ACC, has helped shape and strengthen this organization’s impact for generations of artists and cultural leaders. Both embody the belief, central to ACC’s mission, that cultural exchange is not a passive act, but a force for lasting change. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us and whose generosity made this evening such an extraordinary success.”
The evening also featured captivating performances by two ACC alumni, Grammy Award–winning violinist Jennifer Koh (ACC grantee 2011) and renowned Indian Kuchipudi dancer Shantala Shivalingappa (ACC Grantee 2008, 2010, 2012). Their work serves as a living testament to the impact of ACC.
Michelle Yeoh was presented with the 2026 Gala Honoree distinction for a career spanning over sixty films and a sustained commitment to humanitarianism. A trailblazing figure in global cinema, Yeoh won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2023 for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once and has given voice to a generation of strong, complex Asian female characters across decades of acclaimed work, from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians to Wicked and Star Trek: Discovery. Beyond the screen, she has spent a decade serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, where she focuses on empowering the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Wendy O'Neill received the 2026 Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Award, presented to philanthropists who have made outstanding contributions to advancing international understanding between Asia and the U.S. Established in 2009 in honor of ACC's first Chairman and wife of John D. Rockefeller 3rd, the award recognizes O'Neill's exceptional support and dedicated service to ACC, including eleven years as Chair of the Board of Trustees, and her enduring belief in the transformative power of cross-cultural dialogue. Her academic grounding in East Asian and Chinese history — combined with early professional experience in China trade and investment — has informed her work across institutions such as the China Medical Board, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Proceeds from the gala help sustain ACC’s grant programs for artists, scholars, and arts organizations. Since its founding in 1963, ACC has awarded over $100 million to support approximately 6,000 fellowship exchanges across 16 disciplines to grantees from 26 countries and regions.
About The Asian Cultural Council (ACC)
The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) is a grant-giving and grant-seeking global nonprofit organization founded and headquartered in New York City that fosters cultural exchange between the U.S. and Asia, and within Asia. ACC awards grants to artists, scholars, arts professionals, and organizations, enabling them to fully immerse themselves in a culture other than their own to advance international dialogue, understanding, and respect. For more information, please visit https://www.asianculturalcouncil.org.
