Fort Worth has long been a city that blends high culture with big personalities, and this spring, the Cliburn’s 2026 Gala promises a celebration that will do both with style and heart. Set for Friday, April 10 at the Fort Worth Zoo Reserve, the black-tie event — titled Iconically American — marks the nation’s 250th birthday while honoring Van Cliburn, one of the country’s most enduring musical icons and cultural ambassadors.
This is no ordinary gala. Texas favorites Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen will share the stage, offering a soundtrack as unmistakably American as the event’s name. Lovett’s genre-bending storytelling meets Keen’s painterly songwriting, and the result is a uniquely Texan, unapologetically celebratory vibe.
Lovett, a singer, composer, and actor whose career spans 14 albums, has long defied easy categorization. Country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel, and blues all live in his music, fused with a storyteller’s gift for capturing life’s subtleties. His stage presence is magnetic, showcasing breadth and depth that have earned him four Grammys, the Americana Music Association Trailblazer Award, and the title of Texas State Musician. Lovett and his Large Band appear at Bass Hall almost every year, making him feel like a Cowtown fixture.
Robert Earl Keen, meanwhile, is in the midst of a creative renaissance. Two decades on the road and 21 albums might have suggested a quieter chapter, but Keen keeps moving forward with vigor and vision. Recent achievements — Grand Ole Opry debut, sold-out Hollywood Bowl shows, collaborations with Tyler Childers and the Turnpike Troubadours — feel like the start of something rather than a continuation. His songwriting is meticulous and visual, capturing fleeting gestures and textures of life in songs that feel immediate and enduring. Outside the spotlight, Keen nurtures a deep connection to Texas through projects like his Homecoming Weekend at John T. Floore’s Country Store and flood relief benefit concerts, raising millions while staying rooted in the community.
The Cliburn itself has long set the standard for musical excellence. Known worldwide for its Van Cliburn International Piano Competition — dubbed “the instrument’s Olympics” by The Guardian — the organization has launched generations of classical pianists onto global stages. Beyond competitions, the Cliburn brings music into the community, from free concerts to in-school programs that reach hundreds of thousands of students. Its 2025 competition winners — Aristo Sham, Vitaly Starikov, and Evren Ozel — now join a roster of past laureates traveling the globe, a reminder that Fort Worth’s stage can launch careers as far-reaching as any.
The Gala, as the Cliburn’s primary fundraiser, is more than a black-tie evening — it’s a celebration of craft, culture, and connection. With Lovett and Keen on stage, the city will experience Texas music at its most iconic, all while supporting the classical artistry that has made the Cliburn a name recognized worldwide.