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Festival Napa Valley President and CEO Richard Walker said, “Andrea Bocelli embodies the spirit of the Angels of the Arts Award through his extraordinary artistic achievements, enduring contributions to the arts, and philanthropic leadership. His work demonstrates the power of the arts to transform lives and strengthen communities.”

Festival Napa Valley Presented World-renowned tenor and humanitarian Andrea Bocelli with its Angels of the Arts Award, the Festival’s highest honor, at a celebratory gala on September 14. Festival President & CEO Rick Walker and Executive Producer Sienna Peck presented Bocelli the award and San Francesco Chief of Protocol Penny Coulter presented Bocelli a piece of Golden Gate Bridge, a gift from Mayor Daneil Lurie.

The Angels of the Arts Award is the highest honor given by Festival Napa Valley in recognition of extraordinary artistic achievements and philanthropic leadership. In 2026, the award was given to the celebrated tenor Andrea Bocelli. He received the award at an event held on September 14 at the Carolands Chateau, comprising a reception and a concert titled Voice and the Violin, which featured Joshua Bell, Larisa Martínez, and Peter Dugan.

Festival Napa Valley celebrates it’s 20th anniversary with a record-breaking Arts for All Gala at Nickel & Nickel, raising $6.5 million for year-round education, scholarships, and community initiatives. The milestone evening brought together philanthropists, artists vintners and civic leaders.

Aside from raising a record-breaking $6.5 million at the Arts for All Gala on July 12, the 20th anniversary season of Festival Napa Valley — fondly dubbed “The Best Days of Summer” — also attracted stars ranging from maestro-philanthropist Gordon Getty and soprano Renée Fleming to Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger.

Festival Napa Valley marked its 20th anniversary 4 to 19 July with an expansive program bringing more than 300 artists to more than 60 locations including wineries, theatres, and open-air stages throughout the region. The program ranged from world-premiere opera and symphonic concerts to jazz, ballet, film with live orchestra, intimate recitals, and spontaneous performances. Meyer Sound systems provided by Sound Image, a Clair Global brand, supported programming across the festival.

The festival’s annual Dance Gala, A Night at the Ballet, brought an exhilarating production to Napa courtesy of co-producers Melanie Hamrick, Joanna DeFelice and Christine Shevchenko. 

Festival Napa Valley celebrated its 20th anniversary with the Arts for All Gala on July 12 at Nickel & Nickel in Oakville, raising a record $6.5 million to support the organization's year-round education, scholarship and community initiatives.

Renée Fleming returned to Festival Napa Valley on July 11 with an inspired performance of Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena. The immersive multimedia concert, inspired by her 2023 Grammy Award-winning album of the same name, was conducted by Alexander Shelley.