PRESENTS

ICON

LET’S MAKE SOME BEAUTIFUL NOISE

MAY 15, 2026 ・ THE SOVEREIGN

ALTBALL is a creative showcase that is both of the community and for the community—and this year, we're taking over The Sovereign for a full-on spectacle: 30 designers, avant garde looks, musical guests, special performances, and then a proper ball after the runway show.

Ready to snatch a trophy? We’re looking for folks who will serve killer looks and epic performances fit for a truly elevated runway experience. Read on for category details.

The ball is open to all attendees, but you must have a ticket to the show to get in and walk. (And enjoy the rest of the show + party.)

2026 BALL CATEGORIES

THE LOOK

Best Dressed in Glitz & Glam

Some icons never say a word before they own the room—they simply ARRIVE. The Look is a best-dressed glitz and glam category celebrating the art of the entrance: polished, cohesive, and radiating the kind of intention that turns heads before the music even drops. Every element should work together head to toe to deliver a sophisticated, runway-ready statement that says I know exactly who I am. Channel the red carpet as revolution. Make elegance your manifesto. 

  • Female Figure vs Male Figure vs GNC, 3 trophies, 1 prize

THE LEGACY

Open to All Runway

The runway has always been a stage for those who refused to disappear. The Legacy is an open-to-all category focused on presence, control, and command of the floor. Showcase fringe, shoulder pieces, and headpieces that enhance movement and silhouette to deliver a polished runway presentation that feels deliberate, powerful, and rooted in ballroom tradition. This floor belongs to you. Walk like you know it.

  • Star vs Statement vs Legend only, 3 trophies, 1 prize (no Beginners or Icons)

THE LIST

Open to All Performance

The List is a legendary performance lineup ready to channel the electric essence of music's greatest icons not through imitation, but through embodiment. Bring the glitz, the glamour, the star-level energy. Let Grace, Prince, Madonna, Bowie, Gaga, Michael, Janet, Elton and Beyoncé move through you. Channel their essence, merging fashion and movement into a memorable, high-impact moment on the floor.

  • Legends vs Statements vs Stars, 3 trophies, 1 prize (no Beginners or Icons)

  • If you were on “The List” we expect you—you're already through to the battles.

  • If you're challenging The List you must submit your name by April 15.

ALTBALL 2026 THEME: ICON

Some of fashion's greatest moments have happened when musicians have used clothing as an instrument of rebellion, identity and liberation. From Bowie's gender-fluid glam to Grace Jones' architectural power, from Prince's purple flair to Lady Gaga's boundary-breaking spectacle—these artists didn't just make music, they created entire visual languages that challenged everything society thought it knew about identity, beauty and power.

ALTBALL 2026 will channel the fearless fashion of music’s cultural icons past and present who transform clothing into activism, armor and art. It will be an electrifying showcase of creativity and performance—all in support of critical work being done to support the most vulnerable in our community.