EJAE, Hayley Kiyoko, Bowen Yang Honored at 2026 Gold Gala for AAPI & Multicultural Leadership

The Gold Gala returned to Los Angeles for its fifth edition on Saturday (May 9).

Held at downtown L.A.’s The Music Center, the annual event brought together celebrities and leaders from across industries to honor impactful Asian Pacific and multicultural changemakers.

Among the attendees were EJAE , Bowen Yang , Hayley Kiyoko , H.E.R. , GIRLSET, Halsey, Simu Liu, Charles Melton, Eileen Gu, Jet Li, Chloé Zhao, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. The gala celebrated Gold House’s 2026 Gold100 List, recognizing the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders of the past year.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas received the inaugural Global vanguard honor, while Beef season two star Charles Melton was presented with the Gold artistic achievement honor. Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu earned the Gold impact award, and Avengers: Doomsday star Simu Liu received the Gold mogul award. Martial arts icon, actor and philanthropist Jet Li was honored with the Gold legend award.

During the event, Hayley Kiyoko performed a rendition of “Girls Like Girls” alongside ARKAI and Lindsey Stirling ahead of the release of her directorial debut. Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. and actress Liza Soberano also shared an exclusive first look at their upcoming film, Forgotten Island .

The Gold Gala was followed by the Billboard x Gold House Founders Party, which featured performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Nymphia Wind and Plastique Tiara, along with a DJ set from Mortal Kombat II star Joe Taslim.

The afterparty also included a Maybelline New York-sponsored celebrity karaoke room, where KPop Demon Hunters filmmaker Maggie Kang teamed up with actors Ross Butler and Saagar Shaikh to belt out Linkin Park’s “In the End.”

Ahead of the 2026 Gold Gala, Billboard caught up with several stars to hear about their favorite cultural foods. Hayley Kiyoko recommended trying the Japanese hot pot dish sukiyaki, while H.E.R. shouted out the popular Filipino dessert halo-halo. Priyanka Chopra Jonas suggested Indian chutney, and Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying and husband Mark Hoying recommended traditional Filipino rice cake.

See more stars in attendance at the 2026 Gold Gala below.

_Originally reported by [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/gold-gala-2026-photos-ejae-hayley-kiyoko-bowen-yang-1236243798/)._