HONORS AWARDS 2026
Schedule
Sun May 24 2026 at 06:00 pm to 09:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
The Gem Theater | Kansas City, KS
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🌹 HONORS AWARDS 2026Presented by the 18th & Vine Arts Festival Foundation
📍 Gem Theater
Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District
🗓 May 24, 2026
🎟 Red Carpet: 6:00–7:00 PM
🎭 Awards Program: 7:00–9:00 PM (Hard Stop)
A Red-Carpet Celebration of Kansas City’s Cultural Builders
Kansas City’s culture didn’t happen by accident.
It was built by musicians.
By storytellers.
By dancers.
By poets.
By cultural leaders who dedicated their lives to the craft.
The Honors Awards is a live, high-energy celebration recognizing the living legends who shaped our city’s artistic foundation.
This night is not about who’s trending.
It’s about legacy.
🎤 HOST & OPENING CEREMONY
Opening Welcome & Ceremony
City Proclamations
Opening Performance:
Quez & Kimology
🌟 2026 HONOREES
🎶 Gospel Honor
Isaac Cates
🎷 Jazz Honor
Lonnie McFadden
🎭 Theatre & Film Honor
Shawn Edwards
🎨 Visual Art Honor
J. Leroy Beasley
💃 Dance Honor
ICE Studios School of Dance
(Founder: Isha “Ice” Williams)
✍🏽 Poetry Honor
Mary Moore (“Mother Mary”)
🗣 Spoken Word Honor
Simeon Taylor
🔥 R&B Male Honor
LeVelle Crawford
🎤 Icon Living Award
Sean Tyler
🎼 Music Director Recognition
Jason Betts
🎶 TRIBUTE PERFORMERS & PARTICIPANTS
🎭 Theatre Tribute Performance
Piaget Long
🎷 Jazz Tribute Performance
Chloe (Mr. Bojangles)
🌎 Latin Tribute Performance
Pablo Sanhueza
🎶 Gospel Tribute Performance
Chrystal Rucker
✍🏽 Live Poetry Tributes
Ashley Brewer
JaySol
Delynia Jannell
Charmelle Colfield
🗣 Spoken Word Tribute
Kim Keys
🔥 R&B Tribute Duet
Marcus J
Willis Blunt
⭐ Icon Living Tribute Performance
Anthony Saunders
🎬 WHAT TO EXPECT
✔ Cinematic video tributes for each honoree
✔ Live 3-minute tribute performances (no drawn-out segments)
✔ Official City Proclamations
✔ A tightly curated 2-hour program (Hard Stop at 9:00 PM)
✔ Elegant rose-themed stage design
✔ Red carpet experience with step-and-repeat backdrop
✔ The Rose Lounge open throughout the evening
No long speeches.
No dead air.
A celebration measured in meaning — not minutes.
🎟 TICKET OPTIONS
🎟 $15 Presale Tickets (available for 30 days)
🎟 $30 General Admission
⭐ $50 VIP Experience
• Reserved premium seating
• Catered meal
• Exclusive VIP gift bag
• Priority red-carpet access
Secure your tickets now at:
👉 18thandVineArtsFestival.com
🌹 WHY THIS NIGHT MATTERS
The 18th & Vine Jazz District is one of the most historic Black cultural districts in America.
The Honors Awards exists to:
• Celebrate living artists
• Preserve Black cultural excellence
• Provide official City recognition
• Build a premier arts awards tradition rooted in 18th & Vine
You’ve heard them.
You’ve learned from them.
You’ve stood on what they built.
Now we honor them — while they can still receive their flowers.
🎟 Get your tickets at 18thandVineArtsFestival.com
#HonorsAwards2026 #18thAndVine #KansasCityArts #GiveFlowers #KCCulture
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Where is it happening?
The Gem Theater, 1615 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108-1668, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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