Inside the Star-Studded 2026 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala

The evening before the 2026 Grammy Awards, Los Angeles was flooded with celebrities celebrating artists and artistry alike at Clive Davis’s annual Pre-Grammy Gala. The ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel was packed to the brim with stars from all corners of Hollywood, from Olivia Dean and Brian Cox to Colman Domingo and Joni Mitchell. Many arrived arm in arm—Madison Beer with Justin Herbert, Dove Cameron with Damiano David, Lana Del Rey with Jeremy Dufrene—as everyone gathered to pay tribute to Republic Records founders Monte and Avery Lipman (and, of course, to Clive himself).

Former president Barack Obama helped kick off the evening with a video message honoring Clive, who sat center stage in a bedazzled blazer befitting the night. Obama reflected on Clive’s singular ability to recognize greatness before the rest of the world caught on.

“Janis Joplin. Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston. Clive recognized their potential before just about anyone else and then helped them to reach it,” Obama said. “And it wasn’t just young folks. Clive helped Aretha Franklin and Carlos Santana make comebacks long after most people thought their glory days had passed because he knew that great music can come from anywhere and be enjoyed by audiences everywhere. All it needs is a champion.”

Obama also highlighted Clive’s role in opening doors at a time when Black artists struggled to find distribution. “Clive signed Gamble and Huff, helping bring the sound of Philadelphia and elevating 1,000s of Black artists these days. Most folks probably don’t realize how much of the music they love, the soundtrack of their lives, was shaped by one man.”

The night unfolded as a true celebration of that legacy, with performances from Olivia Dean, Sombr, Alex Warren, Laufey and Darren Criss, Clipse and John Legend, Jelly Roll and MGK, Jennifer Hudson, Dan + Shay, Art Garfunkel, and Huntr/x from KPop Demon Hunters. Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance to introduce the Lipmans themselves, telling the brothers, “I celebrate you all because of what you are doing and what you’ve done. Believe it, this is just the beginning.”

The evening honored the past and the present of music right ahead of the 2026 Grammys, and the red carpet captured this glamorous star power. Below, find snapshots from the 2026 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala, where legends, newcomers, and the industry’s standouts all dressed for a night worthy of the soundtrack of our lives.