With Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg mingling among local leaders, casino executives and community advocates, Atlantic City’s 2026 Mayor’s Gala delivered a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Jersey Shore on Saturday night.
The black-tie affair, hosted by Mayor Marty Small Sr. at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, combined celebrity star power with a mission to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities.
Dubbed “The Future Is Ours,” the gala served as both a celebration of Small’s second full term as mayor and a major fundraising effort benefiting youth programs, senior services, veteran organizations, arts groups and other community-based initiatives throughout Atlantic City.
Organizers set an ambitious fundraising goal of $750,000, building on the more than $611,000 raised during Small’s inaugural gala in 2022.
The evening drew elected officials, business leaders, community advocates, casino executives and residents from across the county.
A VIP reception preceded the gala, while an afterparty featuring celebrity DJ Kid Capri kept the festivities going late into the night.
The event blended celebration with charity, a theme Small emphasized months before the gala when announcing his fundraising goal.
“Every single dime is going to charity,” the mayor said during an April press conference unveiling plans for the event. The proceeds are earmarked for organizations serving a broad cross-section of Atlantic City’s population.
Beneficiaries include the Atlantic City Police Athletic League, AC Elite Football, senior citizen organizations, multicultural groups and arts programs, among others.
According to event organizers, the Atlantic City PAL served as the primary charitable beneficiary and will distribute funding to various nonprofit partners throughout the community.
Whoopi Goldberg served as the special celebrity guest, introducing Small at the dinner and greeting special VIP guests. The EGOT winner praised Mayor Small. Of his tenure in government, Goldberg said, “I can only tell you what he’s been doing has been pretty terrific.”
Attendees embraced the gala’s black-tie atmosphere with a dazzling display of formalwear that transformed the ballroom into a sea of elegance. Women arrived in floor-length gowns adorned with vibrant hues, intricate beading, sequins and dramatic silhouettes, while men sported classic tuxedos and tailored formal suits.
The celebratory atmosphere marked a notable shift from the political turbulence that surrounded Small just a year ago. The mayor entered the 2025 election cycle amid intense scrutiny stemming from domestic violence allegations involving his daughter, a case that generated months of headlines and public debate.
However, a jury later acquitted both Marty and La’Quetta Small of all charges, and voters subsequently returned the mayor to office with decisive victories in both the Democratic primary and general election. As he begins his second full elected term, Saturday’s gala reflected a political comeback story of sorts, with supporters focusing less on past controversies and more on the administration’s future agenda and community initiatives.
Whether measured by attendance, fundraising or visibility, the 2026 Mayor’s Gala marked one of the city’s most prominent social and philanthropic gatherings of the year.
