you’re invited
heroes of democracy gala
April 15th, 2026 | New York City
RDI Chairman Garry Kasparov invites you to celebrate freedom and those that make it possible at a unique evening mixing glamor, dinner, and most importantly, community and inspiration. Plenty of organizations focus on what they’re fighting against. RDI’s Heroes of Democracy Gala is an opportunity to envision the future that we’re fighting for. Our honorees didn’t merely take great personal risks to defend freedom; they understood that they had to offer people something to aspire to. We’re excited to honor them and raise a toast with an incredible group of people! More details to follow.
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Admission: 6:30pm-10:30pm
Dress Code: Formal Attire
honorees
heroes of democracy
Check back soon to see our 2026 Honorees!
Past Honorees include:
rsvp today
gala tickets
General Admission: $500
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala
Heroes of Tomorrow (Young Professionals): $250
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala
Student Ticket (Undergraduate and Graduate): $100
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala
VIP Ticket: $1,750
- Includes 1 ticket to Gala & 1 ticket to Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov
Gala Patron: $5,000
- Includes 2 tickets to Gala, 2 tickets to Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov, featured in promotional materials, and underwrites a ticket for a Frontline Fellow dissident and a college student to attend.
Sponsorship Opportunities (See Sponsorships Opportunities Page below for more details):
Chairman’s Sponsor: $75,000
- Includes recognition as the “Presenting Event Sponsor” in all event materials, one full VIP table with preferential placement (10 tickets) with full access to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception, underwriting Gala tickets for 12 dissidents, young professionals, or students, a full page advertisement in the program, and more
Democracy Visionary: $50,000
- Includes one full table with preferential placement (10 tickets), 10 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception, underwriting Gala tickets for 8 dissidents, young professionals, or students, a half-page advertisement in the program, and more.
Dissident Defender: $30,000
- Includes one full table with preferential placement (10 tickets), 5 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception, underwriting Gala tickets for 4 dissidents, young professionals, or students to attend the Gala, and more.
Campus Catalyst: $15,000
- Includes a half table (5 tickets), 2 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov, underwriting Gala tickets for 2 college students, and more.
Human Rights Hero: $10,000
- Includes 4 tickets to Gala, 2 tickets to the Chairman’s Cocktail Reception hosted by Garry Kasparov, underwriting Gala tickets for 2 dissidents, and more.
Please fill in your information below to purchase your tickets to the 2026 RDI Heroes of Democracy Gala. Contact AnneElyse DeArment at giving@rdi.org for additional information, sponsorships, and payment options.
Email giving@rdi.org with any questions.
Sponsorship opportunities
The fight for freedom is a generational one–and we can’t do it alone. We need your support to amplify the voices of those standing up to oppression, inspire action through powerful storytelling, and build a global community committed to defending democracy.
See our full sponsorship opportunities below and email RDI Development Coordinator AnneElyse DeArment at giving@rdi.org to learn more.
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