Step Inside The Crystal Palace: Tickets On Sale for Emily’s Entourage’s 2026 Gala
An immersive evening inspired by one of history’s great feats of architecture will bring together Philadelphia’s changemakers to accelerate lifesaving breakthroughs for people with cystic fibrosis.
PHILADELPHIA, PA—August 25, 2026—More than 170 years ago, London’s Crystal Palace became an international icon of possibility—a place where groundbreaking innovation and extraordinary feats of human ingenuity came together to shape the future.
This October, that spirit comes to Philadelphia.
Tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 Evening with Emily’s Entourage Gala: The Crystal Palace, taking place on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Led by Honorary Chairs Joel Nierman, Erin Shanahan and family, the event will be held at a stunning and iconic new indoor venue—the Horticulture Center in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. For the first time, guests will step inside its soaring glass greenhouse, transformed for one extraordinary night into The Crystal Palace.
Inspired by this feat of architectural innovation, this year’s gala will bring together hundreds of passionate changemakers to accelerate lifesaving breakthroughs for the approximately 10% of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) who do not benefit from current mutation-targeted therapies. While these treatments have transformed the lives of nearly 90% of people with CF, individuals in the final 10% continue to face a progressive, life-threatening disease with baited, but fading, breath.
Emily’s Entourage (EE) is helping shape the future of CF therapeutics—not simply by funding research, but by identifying the most promising scientific opportunities, convening experts across disciplines, and accelerating discoveries toward clinical trials. Since 2011, EE has raised more than $22 million, funded 42 groundbreaking research projects, and helped generate more than $73 million in follow-on funding to speed progress toward a future where no one with CF is left behind.
“The original Crystal Palace stood as proof of what cutting-edge science, technology, and ingenuity can do,” said Emily Kramer-Golinkoff, MBE, co-founder of EE and a person with CF in the final 10%.
“That same spirit fuels everything we do at EE. For those of us in the final 10%, those breakthroughs can’t possibly come soon enough. We believe that by incubating promising new approaches and creating the conditions for optimal growth, we can accelerate lifesaving progress for the final 10%.” That’s what The Crystal Palace is all about.”
An Evening of Wonder, Celebration, and Impact
Designed to immerse guests in the spirit of ingenuity and discovery, The Crystal Palace will feature:
- A spectacular greenhouse setting where the spirit of the Crystal Palace comes to life
- Gourmet dining and handcrafted cocktails
- Powerful storytelling celebrating the people and science driving progress
- Live entertainment and unforgettable moments throughout the evening
- A vibrant community united around one extraordinary mission
Every ticket purchased helps create the conditions for the next breakthrough—and brings us closer to a future where every person with CF can dream bigger, live longer, and never fear being left behind.
Event Details
Evening with Emily’s Entourage Gala: The Crystal Palace
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
New Indoor Venue: Horticulture Center, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
Attire: Cocktail
Young Professional tickets (ages 35 and under) are $150, and General Admission tickets are $250.
Purchase tickets or learn more at www.emilysentourage.org/phillygala26.
The Evening with Emily’s Entourage gala is made possible by Presenting sponsor Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Dream Team sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim; and Violet sponsors 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Green Family Foundation & Firstrust Bank, The Medi-Dose® Group, and Viatris Inc., among others.
About Emily’s Entourage
Emily’s Entourage (EE) is an innovative 501(c)3 that accelerates research for new treatments and a cure for individuals in the final 10% of the cystic fibrosis (CF) population that do not benefit from currently available mutation-targeted therapies. Since 2011, Emily’s Entourage has awarded millions of dollars in research grants, launched a clinical-stage CF gene therapy company, developed the CF Clinical Trial Connect (CTC) global patient database and clinical trial matchmaking program to accelerate clinical trial recruitment, and led worldwide efforts to drive high-impact research and drug development. The organization has been featured in national media, including the New York Times, STAT, CNN, People, and more. Learn more at emilysentourage.org.
Media Contact
Hannah Kleckner
Director of Marketing and Communications
hannah@emilysentourage.org
