Forty years ago, Joe Killian, motivated by the idea of offering free concerts to New Yorkers, founded SummerStage in Central Park. Since then (and despite substantial hurdles, especially in its early days), SummerStage has grown into a New York City institution, bringing around 200,000 people each year to parks around the five boroughs.
On Sept. 10, at City Parks Foundation’s 2026 dinner and concert benefit fundraiser, Killian will be honored with the 2026 SummerStage Icon Award for founding and executive producing the festival from 1986-1993 (he continues to serve on the SummerStage board and is the founder of Killian + Company).
Additionally, Alex Blavatnik, vice chairman of Access Industries and senior advisor to the Blavatnik Family Foundation, will be honored with the 2026 City Parky Foundation Icon Award. Blavatnik, who served on the Warner Music Group board of directors for 12 years, until 2023, currently oversees the Blavatnik Archive, a nonprofit that preserves materials about 20th century Jewish and world history.
The benefit fundraiser will feature a performance by the iconic Preservation Hall Jazz Band, with special guests to be revealed down the road. The dinner and concert take place at Rumsey Playfield, SummerStage’s flagship venue in Central Park.
“As we celebrate SummerStage’s 40th anniversary this year, we are truly honored to be presenting our trailblazing festival founder Joe Killian with this year’s SummerStage Icon Award. Joe had a groundbreaking vision to bring free, world-class performing arts programming to New Yorkers, and we are so proud to be continuing his mission across the city to this day” said Heather Lubov, executive director of City Parks Foundation. “We are also equally excited to present Alex Blavatnik with the City Parks Foundation Icon Award and shine a spotlight on the longtime commitment and philanthropic support that he and his Foundation have provided to preserving cultural history and making it freely accessible to all – something we strongly believe in.”
City Parks Foundation, through Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage Festival, is one of the largest presenters of free music, art and culture in the city.
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