Michael R. Bloomberg, Diane von Furstenberg, and Robin Roberts Announce Bob Iger as the 2026 PAC NYC Icon of Culture
The PAC NYC Icons of Culture Gala, presented by BNY, is set for October 27, 2026, at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in Lower Manhattan.
NEW YORK (May 20, 2026) – Last night, Michael R. Bloomberg, Chair of the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), and Diane von Furstenberg, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, announced former Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger as the 2026 PAC NYC Icon of Culture. Mr. Iger will be honored on Tuesday, October 27, at the annual PAC NYC Icons of Culture Gala, established to celebrate the artistic excellence of the Perelman Performing Arts Center and honor an individual who has had an extraordinary influence on culture and impact in the world.
The gala also serves as PAC NYC’s signature fundraising moment of the year. Mr. Bloomberg and Ms. von Furstenberg, who was feted as the 2025 PAC NYC Icon of Culture, announced the opening of the Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) Studios in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. For the third year in a row, the PAC NYC Icons of Culture Gala is presented by BNY.
A Gathering of Cultural Leaders
During the event, which was attended by co-anchor of “Good Morning America” Robin Roberts who also shared remarks, Bloomberg Philanthropies CEO Patricia E. Harris, PAC NYC Artistic Director and co-director of Tony-nominated Broadway sensation “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” Bill Rauch and Executive Director Khady Kamara Nunez, Leonard Lauder, Marcus Samuelsson, Leena Nair, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Annette de la Renta, Charles Porch and Susan Stroman, among many others, Bloomberg spoke about Mr. Iger’s decades of transformative leadership as one of the world’s most prominent media executives combined with his enduring commitment to philanthropy.
“Bob Iger is one of the most ambitious and effective executives in the world, with 40 years of leadership in media and entertainment. As CEO of Disney, he led one of the world’s most influential companies to new heights, including an unparalleled run of global box office hits. He’s been deeply committed to Lower Manhattan as a board member and supporter at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and as an early champion of the PAC. We’re also lucky to have him on the board at Bloomberg Philanthropies.” – Mike Bloomberg
“It is an honor to pass the baton of this prestigious recognition to my friend Bob Iger. Bob has been a superstar all his life… a visionary, an extraordinary leader, a wonderful husband, a loving father, and a compassionate citizen! No one deserves it more than him!!” – Diane von Fürstenberg
“Bob is truly an icon. I appreciate that his steadfast leadership brings out the very best in all who cross his path. Above all, he is a stellar human being.” – Robin Roberts
Telling Bob Iger’s Story
PAC NYC will produce a show on October 27 to tell Mr. Iger’s story, which begins with his birth in New York City and his upbringing in Oceanside. While Mr. Iger’s roots in the New York area run deep, his impact on culture globally is historic. After graduating from Ithaca College, he served as a local weatherman in Ithaca before joining ABC in 1974, launching a storied career that would eventually lead him to become one of the world’s most iconic entertainment company leaders.
Widely recognized as one of the world’s most consequential business leaders, Mr. Iger’s tenure was defined by unprecedented growth through landmark acquisitions and blockbuster films, global expansion of the Disney brand with the opening of Disney’s first theme park in mainland China, and innovation that has positioned Disney as an industry leader through its creative content offerings across multiple digital platforms. He currently serves on the boards of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
100% of Proceeds Support PAC NYC
Thanks to BNY’s commitment to culture and community, and support from the BNY Foundation, 100% of the gala’s proceeds go directly to the artistic, civic, and educational programs of PAC NYC.
During the inaugural gala in 2024, PAC NYC honored MTV co-founder Tom Freston as the first PAC NYC Icon of Culture, and in 2025, PAC NYC celebrated Diane von Furstenberg. Over the last two years, the show has featured a fun, fast-paced repertoire of comedy, music, dance, opera, and theatrical performances that tell the honoree’s story. World renowned talent from music, film, television, theater, and fashion have participated in the galas including Andy Cohen, André De Shields, Baaba Maal, Christy Turlington Burns, esperanza spalding, Fab 5 Freddy, Jennifer Nettles, Karlie Kloss, Mark Ronson, Norah Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Seth Meyers, St. Vincent, Tiffany Haddish, Tituss Burgess, U2’s Bono and The Edge, and many more.
A Rapidly Rising Cultural Destination
Since opening in 2023, PAC NYC has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors and established itself as a home for award-winning, genre-defining artistic work. From PAC NYC’s inaugural season, the hit production Cats: The Jellicle Ball is now on Broadway and has earned nine Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival and Best Director for Artistic Director Bill Rauch.
Beyond presenting innovative operas, comedies, dramas, and dance, the center has commissioned 54 new works and launched The Democracy Cycle, a major initiative supporting an additional 25 artists. This year’s programming includes the world premiere of Jennifer Nettles’ new musical Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo and the return of the acclaimed A Christmas Carol from The Old Vic. These productions, along with weekly free performances on the lobby stage, offer just a glimpse of what audiences from across New York City and around the world can experience at the World Trade Center. Through its visionary programming, PAC NYC is rapidly establishing Lower Manhattan as a premier cultural destination.
About PAC NYC
Opened in September 2023, the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) is the final piece of the World Trade Center’s rebuilding after 9/11. Chaired by Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York City, PAC NYC represents the city’s resilience, standing as a beacon of hope and affirmation of life through music, theater, dance, opera, media, and more. At the heart of its mission is a commitment to creating connections through the performing arts and to entertaining and inspiring audiences from across New York and around the world.
About Bob Iger
Robert A. Iger is the former Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company and currently serves as Senior Advisor and a member of Disney’s Board of Directors.
During his two decades at the helm of the company, Mr. Iger built on Disney’s rich storytelling history with the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox, the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort, and the release of record-setting films including Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, Avatar: The Way of Water, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 and Disney’s Zootopia 2. Mr. Iger positioned Disney as an industry leader with the launch of Disney+.
In 2022, Mr. Iger was recognized as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. Mr. Iger was awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur by the French Republic in 2024.
Mr. Iger is the author of the New York Times best-selling book “The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company,” published in 2019.
