Iconoclast Dinner Experience returns to Carnegie Hall and Martha's Vineyard for 2026

By AI, Created 9:59 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The Iconoclast Dinner Experience will stage its 11th annual dinner at Carnegie Hall on June 6, 2026, then continue its season with a Martha’s Vineyard farm-to-table event in August. Net proceeds from the events support international students at Spelman College, underscoring the platform’s focus on culinary leadership and access.

Why it matters: - The Iconoclast Dinner Experience is using high-profile culinary events to elevate diverse chefs, beverage professionals and cultural leaders. - Net proceeds from all events support international students at Spelman College from Jamaica and sub-Saharan African countries. - The 2026 season stretches from New York City to Martha’s Vineyard, broadening the platform’s reach and visibility.

What happened: - The Iconoclast Dinner Experience announced its 11th annual dinner at Carnegie Hall in New York City for June 6, 2026. - The organization also announced a second 2026 event, “The King Is Dead,” for Aug. 9, 2026, at The FARM Institute on Martha’s Vineyard. - The Carnegie Hall dinner will host 100 guests and feature an intimate cocktail hour followed by a seven-course experience. - The Martha’s Vineyard event is scheduled as a farm-to-table dinner at 5:30 p.m.

The details: - Esi Eggleston Bracey will serve as honorary chair for the 2026 Carnegie Hall dinner. - Bracey was most recently Unilever’s global chief growth and marketing officer and is a co-founder of the CROWN Coalition. - Chef Preston Clark will serve as culinary chair for all Iconoclast Dinner Experience events. - Clark is the son of the late Patrick Clark, the first Black chef to win a James Beard Award. - Clark trained at the Culinary Institute of America and worked under Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Charlie Trotter. - Clark now leads Lure Fishbar and Bar Mercer. - The Carnegie Hall dinner will feature eight honorees from across food and beverage. - Culinary honorees include Renata Ameni of Birdee in New York City, Juan Camilo Liscano of Palma in Miami, Max Guillaume of Kabawa in New York City, Sanchit Sahu of Nadu in Chicago, Martel Stone of Dõgon by Kwame Onwuachi in Washington, D.C., and Natalia Vallejo of Cocina al Fondo in San Juan, Puerto Rico. - Wine honoree Loris Jones-Randolph is a sommelier at Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, California. - Spirits honoree Erika Flowers is a creative artist and award-winning bartender in New Orleans. - The Martha’s Vineyard dinner will have internationally renowned painter Tschabalala Self as honorary chair. - Chef Ting, founder of Black Joy Kitchen, will host the Martha’s Vineyard event. - The Martha’s Vineyard dinner will focus on soil, sustainable agriculture and haute cuisine. - Tickets for the Carnegie Hall dinner are available through Ticketbud. - Patronage starts at $1,500 and includes one ticket to the reception, a seven-course culinary and beverage experience and a signature curated gift tote. - Tickets for the Martha’s Vineyard event go on sale June 9, 2026. - The company said the Martha’s Vineyard lineup will be announced later.

Between the lines: - The event continues to position food as a cultural platform, not just a dining experience. - The honorary chairs and honorees suggest a strategy of pairing culinary talent with broader cultural influence. - The focus on protégés and mentees signals an effort to connect established leaders with the next generation. - Moving from Carnegie Hall to Martha’s Vineyard gives the 2026 season both prestige and a more intimate, farm-centered format.

What’s next: - The Carnegie Hall dinner is set for June 6, 2026. - The Martha’s Vineyard event follows on Aug. 9, 2026. - The Martha’s Vineyard honoree lineup will be released before tickets open June 9, 2026. - More event details and RSVP information are available through Ticketbud.