NEW YORK, NY.- The Whitney Museum of American Art’s annual Art Party on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, will be headlined by a DJ set by The Dare. Hosted by the Museum’s Whitney Contemporaries membership group, Art Party is a celebrated cornerstone of New York’s arts and philanthropy calendar. Young patrons, emerging artists, and guests from the worlds of art, fashion, business, philanthropy, and entertainment are invited to sip crafted cocktails, enjoy passed bites, explore the museum's galleries after hours, and dance into the night. This year, bold style takes the spotlight; guests are encouraged to come dressed in their loudest prints and most vibrant patterns and celebrate bold expression in art, style, and sound.
Artists Martine Gutierrez and Emma Safir will serve as Whitney Art Party co-chairs along with Whitney Contemporaries Steven Beltrani, Micaela Erlanger, and Alexander Hankin. The 2026 Whitney Art Party marks Erlanger’s 10th year as co-chair for the event and supporting the Museum.
“Celebrating a decade of co-chairing the Whitney Art Party feels deeply personal to me. I first partnered with the museum during its move to Gansevoort Street, and I had no idea then how meaningful this relationship would become,” said Erlanger. “Over the years, I’ve watched the Whitney—and this event—grow, evolve, and continually reflect the creative energy of New York. This city is always reinventing itself, and the Art Party has been one of my favorite places to witness that spirit come alive.”
From 8:30 pm to 12 am, guests will enjoy a night of dancing with DJ sets by Raúl de Nieves and The Dare, craft cocktails, and exclusive access to the Museum’s galleries. Drinks, music, and passed bites will be offered on the ground floor in Kenneth C. Griffin Hall.
The evening is made possible by Aesop, Faena New York, Libertine, and Maestro Dobel® Tequila.
Proceeds from the Art Party provide critical support to the Whitney’s renowned Independent Study Program (ISP). Founded in 1968, ISP is one of the country’s leading postgraduate programs in studio art, curatorial studies, and critical studies. The program furthers the Whitney’s mission to support living artists throughout their careers.
The Dare—the solo project of vocalist, songwriter and producer Harrison Patrick Smith—took the world by storm with the release of his debut album, What's Wrong With New York?, in 2024, drawing extensive praise from critics and fellow artists alike. The LP, which arrived via Republic Records, features The Dare's ubiquitous single “Girls”—now a bona fide hit with 63 million streams on Spotify alone— and fan favorites “Perfume” and “Good Time.” He's spent the months since touring the record across the world, selling out every single show worldwide, with a bevy of festival performances throughout the summer, including sets at Coachella, Primavera Sound, Lollapalooza, Reading, Leeds and more. The Dare's legendary DJ sets, honed at his signature downtown Manhattan party Freakquencies, have soundtracked parties for Gucci, Celine and Yves Saint Laurent and featured in Rolling Stone, GQ, PAPER and more. Amidst his meteoric rise, he has shared stages and collaborated with the likes of Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, PinkPantheress, Justice, Yves Tumor, Water From Your Eyes and a host of others. Most recently, The Dare shared a deluxe version of his debut album, What's Wrong With New York?: Afters, featuring three new tracks taken from sessions for his full-length debut.
