Movie lovers from across Long Beach descended on the Art Theatre to celebrate the independent cinema’s 101st year in operation — and watch the 2026 Academy Awards — on Sunday.
Each year, the nonprofit Art Theatre hosts a red carpet gala aligned with the Oscars to raise money for its operations. The yearly event is crucial to keeping the doors of the city’s oldest and last remaining independent cinema open, Art Theatre board President Kirk Jordan said previously.
People arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Long Beach Art Theatre hosts its annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
John and Kristen Corenbaum arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People participate in the silent auction during the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jim and Debbie Barrett arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Long Beach Art Theatre hosts its annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People participate in the silent auction during the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
John and Kristen Corenbaum arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People participate in the silent auction during the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People participate in the silent auction during the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People participate in the silent auction during the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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People arrive for the Long Beach Art Theatre’s annual red carpet gala, an event to help raise funds to support the theater’s operations for the coming year, on Sunday March 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
For the first time, this year’s red carpet gala featured a live broadcast of the Oscars on the Art’s newly installed 4K digital projector and screen. Besides the red carpet and the broadcast, attendees enjoyed a silent auction, a photo booth and various prizes awarded to attendees throughout the evening.