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StarlightAwards · 2026
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NY Black MBA partner tickets

The stars align in New York City at The Upmixer

Holiday Soirée — Starlight Awards 2026

December 11, 2026 · New York CityGlobal Black Tie

An evening of recognition, culture and impact — where New York’s brightest gather to honor the people moving our communities forward.

Reserve Your ExperienceExplore Starlight

Presented by The Upmixer (opens in a new tab)

Community Partners

Event essentials

Date
FridayDecember 11, 2026
City
New YorkManhattan
Dress
Global Black TieTradition, culture & couture
Venue
The MatriarchEntrance · 511 West 41st StreetNew York, NY

Until the stars align

Counting down to Friday, December 11, 2026.

Days
Hours
Minutes

Arrival from 7:00 PM

Save your place

The Starlight Story

More than an awards night.

Starlight Awards began as a dazzling addition to a beloved New York Upmixer holiday tradition — a moment to stop, look up, and celebrate the people who make our city shine.

When Starlight gathers, leaders, creatives, professionals and changemakers share one room. Some come to be honored. Most come to honor someone else. Everyone leaves connected.

It is a night for recognition and for reunion — where community work is seen, where new partnerships begin over a toast, and where the next generation is invested in, not just applauded.

Presenters on the Starlight Awards stage beneath a large screen showing the event graphics
A guest in a dark suit poses on the red carpet in front of the sponsor wall
Close-up of a crystal Starlight award on its engraved base
From the Starlight 2023 archive
  • Recognition
  • Connection
  • Culture
  • Leadership
  • Community
  • Impact
  • Celebration
  • Legacy
Ten guests in black-tie attire stand together on a red carpet in front of an Upmixer step-and-repeat backdrop lined with partner organization logos.

In the room

Recognition lives in the room.

A night built around impact, community and connection.

Honors

Honoring those who move us forward.

Starlight recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership, service and creativity lift the people around them.

The Class of 2026

2026 Honoreescoming soon.

This year’s honorees will be revealed in the weeks ahead. Know someone who belongs in the light?

Nominations

The 2026 Awards

Ten categories. One night of recognition.

Join us for the second installment of the Starlight Awards celebration, recognizing more than 11 years of service and collaboration with our network partners during the holiday season and the launch of Ten Ambassadors.

Nominations are now open for our various awards.

  1. Community Impact — Social Media HonoreeNominate
  2. Community Impact — Healthcare HonoreeNominate
  3. Community Impact HonoreeNominate
  4. Community Impact — Sports Ambassador HonoreeNominate
  5. Lifestyle Partner of the Year HonoreeNominate
  6. Lifetime Achievement HonoreeNominate
  7. President of the Year HonoreeNominate
  8. Global Citizen Impact Awards HonoreeNominate
  9. Rising Star — Female HonoreeNominate
  10. Rising Star — Male HonoreeNominate

Archive · 2023

Past recognitions

The 2023 Starlight Awards recipients, kept here as part of the Starlight archive.

  1. Norville Barrington — Dr. Christopher A. Phang: Urban Professional Organizations “President of the Year” Award
  2. Dean Meminger — Community Impact — Storytelling
  3. Michael J. Garner — Community Impact — DEI Champion
  4. Robert E. Cornegy Jr. — Community Impact — Nonprofit
  5. EbonyJanice — Community Impact — Social Media
  6. Dr. K. Torian Easterling — Community Impact — Healthcare
  7. The Estée Lauder Companies — Lifestyle Partner Award
  8. Larry Scott Blackmon — Community Catalyst Award
  9. J. Alexander Martin, D.Litt. — Lifetime Achievement Award
  10. Tamika Mallory — Trailblazer Award
From the Starlight archiveHonorees and presenters on stage at a past Starlight Awards

Impact

The light we pass on.

Dr. Christopher A. Phang smiling in a dark suit and red plaid tie, on a black-and-gold Starlight Awards portrait card

The Scholarship

The Dr. Christopher A. Phang Scholarship

Part of what makes Starlight shine happens long after the last toast. The Dr. Christopher A. Phang Scholarship carries the spirit of the evening forward — investing in students with the drive to lead and the heart to serve.

2026 scholarship details coming soon

Rooted in the Ten Ambassadors framework

  1. S

    Scholarship

    Opening doors to education and the opportunities that follow it.

  2. M

    Mentorship

    Pairing ambition with guidance from those who have walked the path.

  3. S

    Service

    Raising leaders who turn their success into lift for others.

Support the Scholarship

Community · 2026–2027 New York Cares Coat Drive

Share the Warmth

The Upmixer and Starlight Awards are proud to support the 2026–2027 New York Cares Coat Drive, helping New Yorkers stay warm this winter.

Learn about New York Cares

The Gala Experience

Step into the room.

From the first flash of the arrival to the last song of the night, Starlight is designed to be felt. Here is how the evening unfolds.

When the awards end,the night begins.

  • Two guests in black-tie attire pose together in front of the Starlight Awards backdrop

    01

    Arrival

    Black tie, bright lights, and the first glimpse of the room.

  • A guest in a red cocktail dress and a guest in a tailored long coat pose together at the Starlight Awards backdrop

    02

    Style

    Global Black Tie — tradition, culture and couture, worn your way.

  • Two guests smile together at the Starlight Awards backdrop, one in a gold sequined gown with a fur stole, one in a burgundy pinstripe suit

    03

    Connection

    Old friends, new partners, and the conversations that start it all.

  • A musician in a fedora plays an upright bass during the evening

    04

    Music

    Live sound that moves from cocktail hour to the dance floor.

  • Three people at the podium on stage, one speaking into a microphone

    05

    The Honors

    A hush, a name, and a room on its feet.

  • Three guests in evening wear smile together during the celebration

    06

    Celebration

    When the awards end, the night begins.

Evening Flow

The shape of the night.

  1. Act I · 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    Arrival

    Guests arrive in Global Black Tie and step into the light.

  2. Act II · 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM

    Reception

    Appetizers, networking and conversation as the room comes together.

  3. Act III · 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM

    Awards

    The Starlight honors are presented.

  4. Act IV · 9:30 PM – Close

    Celebration

    Live in the Mix · music · dancing.

Act 1 / 4

Tickets & Experience Levels

Reserve your place among the stars.

  • General Admission Pass

    $75

    Doors Open at 7PM. Includes appetizers, networking, the Starlight Awards reception, and the Live in the Mix Social featuring premium DJs and entertainment.

    Get Tickets Now

    Tickets through NY Black MBA on Eventbrite

  • Reception Pass

    $150

    Enjoy an elevated start to the Starlight Awards with appetizers, the awards reception, and access to the Live in the Mix Social, featuring premium DJs and entertainment. In addition your pass includes a two-hour standard open bar from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, access to a designated premium reception area, and seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Continue the celebration with music, networking, and entertainment throughout the evening.

    Seating is limited and not guaranteed. The open bar is available exclusively during the designated two-hour reception window.

    Get Tickets Now

    Tickets through NY Black MBA on Eventbrite

  • Table Package

    By inquiry

    Hosting your organization or a group of guests? Email us to request a table — we’ll share details and pricing directly.

    Email us about tables

    info@theupmixer.com

Friday, December 11, 2026The MatriarchGlobal Black Tie

Partners

Partners in the light.

Starlight is made possible by organizations that believe in recognition, opportunity and community. Partnership places your brand inside one of New York’s most memorable nights.

On the Starlight 2023 stage, a speaker at the podium addresses the room beside a guest holding a crystal award, under a screen reading “2023 Lifestyle Partner of the Year, Estée Lauder Companies”
Starlight 2023 · Partner Honor

2023 Host Organizations

  • National Black MBA Association — Metro New York
  • One Hundred Black Men, Inc.
  • GNYC BNA
  • NSBE NYC Professionals
  • National Sales Network — New York / New Jersey
  • New York Urban League Young Professionals
  • Empire State Medical Association
  • New York Association of Black Journalists
  • BDPA

Place your brand in the light.

Become a Partner
A large open room at The Matriarch with a polished wood floor under blue and amber lighting
  • Tufted leather banquettes and glass-topped tables with gold bases in a red-lit room at The Matriarch
  • A lounge at The Matriarch with gold-patterned walls, tufted leather banquettes and red velvet armchairs
  • A round bar with a tiered, red-lit bottle display at The Matriarch

Venue photography courtesy of Matriarch

The Venue

A private entrance on 41st Street.

The MatriarchEvent Entrance511 West 41st StreetNew York, NYTimes Square · Midtown Manhattan

Just west of Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, The Matriarch becomes Starlight’s home on December 11. A dedicated private entrance on 41st Street takes you straight to the celebration — no need to pass through the hotel lobby.

Get directions

Nominations

Who lights the way for you?

Every Starlight honoree began as someone’s light. Tell us who lights the way for you — it takes less than a minute.

One night.One room.A sky full of stars.

Friday, December 11, 2026 · New York City

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