In 1987, a years-long goal of the Dalai Lama became a reality when the Tibet House US was formed in New York City as a cultural center to preserve Tibetan culture. (Billboard)
Since then, the Annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert has established itself as one of the most singular benefit shows in a city with no shortage of them, bringing popular and classical musicians from both the East and West to the same stage at Carnegie Hall for one night.
“What happens is that people meet for the first time and start collaborating, and things that would never happen any other place happen here,” Philip Glass once told Billboard about the annual event.
This year, the 39th annual edition of the benefit show – celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse — takes over Carnegie Hall on March 3. With Glass (Tibet House US co-founder) and Laurie Anderson (Billboard’s 2024 Artist Indie Icon) serving as the evening’s artistic directors, the 2026 concert features performances by Anderson, Debbie Harry, Kate Pierson (The B-52s), Allison Russell, Toro y Moi, The Philip Glass Ensemble, Tenzin Choegyal, the Resistance Revival Chorus and the Scorchio Quartet, with more names to be revealed in coming weeks. Tony Shanahan (a bandmate of Patti Smith’s) serves as the musical director, with Uma Thurman (whose father, Robert Thurman, was a Tibet House US co-founder alongside Glass and Richard Gere), Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Arden Wohl and Jonah Freeman acting as the event’s honorary chairs.
Anderson and the Philip Glass Ensemble are regular performers at the Tibet House US Benefit Concert, and many of this year’s other performers are returning guests — whether after an absence of a few years or a few decades — as well. Last year, the Tibet House US Benefit Concert also boasted one-of-a-kind performances from Jackson Browne, Michael Stipe, Orville Peck, Arooj Aftab and Tune-Yards.
