The Latino Commission on AIDS, in partnership with the Hispanic Health Network, announced that the 2026 Cielo Gala will take place on June 5, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. This event maintains the theme "Designing a World Without AIDS" and highlights the critical, ongoing need to confront the persistent and unequal burden of HIV on Latine communities. The announcement comes exactly 40 years after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control first documented the disproportionate toll of HIV on Black and Latino people in the United States, marking a somber anniversary that underscores how far public health efforts still must go.
"Forty years after the CDC first reported the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latino communities, we are reminded that our work is far from finished," said Guillermo Chacón, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. He emphasized that the Gala serves as both a celebration of progress and a vital call to action, reaffirming the commitment to a future without AIDS while honoring leaders who are shaping a more equitable public health landscape. The Gala functions as a major convening point, bringing together leaders from public health, government, philanthropy, entertainment, and the corporate sector to build a collective vision where HIV is no longer a public health threat and all communities have equitable access to prevention, care, and dignity.
The organization announced three award recipients for the 2026 event, recognizing significant contributions to the fight against HIV. Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, will receive the Esperanza (Hope) Award for her leadership in community-centered healthcare. Gregory Millett, MPH, Vice President and Director of Public Policy at amfAR, will be honored with the Dennis deLeon Voz de Compromiso (Voice of Commitment) Award for his influential work in HIV research and policy. Mario Pérez, Director of the Division of HIV and STD Programs for Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, will receive the Compañero (Partner) Award for his extensive contributions to HIV prevention and fostering community partnerships.
The importance of this event is rooted in the enduring mission of the Latino Commission on AIDS, which has worked for over three decades to address the entrenched inequities that fuel the spread and impact of HIV in Latine communities nationwide. Despite medical and social progress, Latino communities continue to experience higher rates of new HIV diagnoses, face substantial barriers to accessing care, and grapple with persistent stigma. The 2026 Cielo Gala directly reaffirms the Commission's commitment to advancing culturally responsive programs, building leadership pipelines, strengthening community networks, and ensuring public health systems are equipped to meet the needs of all communities. Funds raised during the Gala are crucial, as they directly support the Commission's year-round initiatives. These include HIV testing and prevention services, community mobilization, organizational capacity-building, National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) observances, Zero campaigns to combat homophobia and transphobia, and national and southern regional health policy advocacy efforts. More information about the organization's broader work in health education, policy, prevention, capacity building, and research is available at https://www.latinoaids.org. The event represents a significant moment for reflection and mobilization, emphasizing that the path to ending the HIV epidemic requires sustained focus on the communities most affected and a dedicated effort to dismantle the systemic barriers that perpetuate health disparities four decades after they were first officially recognized.
