Women leading some of the biggest tours, music venues, entertainment companies and live-event productions came together in Beverly Hills, California, to celebrate their contributions to an industry that reaches millions of people worldwide.
The gathering, held on March 18, 2026, at Mastro’s Beverly Hills Penthouse, was organised as part of Pollstar’s annual Women of Live recognition programme. More than 125 industry professionals attended, including executives, promoters, agents and event organisers whose work helps bring major concerts and live experiences to audiences.
More than two dozen honourees from the 2026 class attended the reception, including international representatives from Nigeria and Taiwan. Among them was Sasha P, founder and chief executive of Purplefire Entertainment in Nigeria, recognised alongside Weining Hung, founder and director of Taiwan-based 9 Kick.
The recognition highlights the influence women are building across the live entertainment business, from artist management and tour promotion to venue operations, marketing, production and event security. Their work extends beyond music, reaching into sports, comedy, festivals and other large-scale live experiences.
This year’s cover honouree was Christy Castillo Butcher, senior vice-president of programming and booking at SoFi Stadium, YouTube Theater and Hollywood Park in the Los Angeles area. Her role places her at the centre of programming major live events, including productions at one of the United States’ largest entertainment venues.
The 2026 recognition also included women whose work supports artists and audiences behind the scenes. These leaders coordinate tours, negotiate bookings, manage venues, develop marketing strategies and oversee the operations required to deliver live events safely and successfully.
Several members of the Women of Live Hall of Fame were also present, including Michele Bernstein, founder of Michi B; Rebekah Foster, owner and chief executive of Ujima Sound Productions; and Corrie Martin, former executive vice-president and managing executive of The•Team. Other Hall of Fame attendees included Ali Harnell of Live Nation Women, Marsha Vlasic of International Artists Group and Jenna Park Adler of Creative Artists Agency.
Beyond the awards and professional recognition, the reception created space for women working across different companies and competing businesses to connect, exchange experiences and build relationships. The gathering reflected a broader effort to strengthen professional networks in an industry where women continue to take on influential leadership roles.
Darby Moeller, senior director of business development at Sixthman and one of the honourees, described the event as an opportunity to connect with talented women who were genuinely interested in learning from one another and building relationships.
The 2026 Women of Live programme recognises professionals based on a combination of industry performance, leadership, innovation, strategic planning and their ability to inspire others. Pollstar’s editorial team also considers box-office data to assess touring success.
The reception was presented by Live Nation Women, with support from Capital One Arena, Danny Wimmer Presents, Sixthman, KP Entertainment and Messina Touring.
For women building careers in live entertainment, recognition of this kind offers more than a celebration of individual achievement. It brings visibility to the range of expertise required to deliver major events and highlights the women shaping decisions across an increasingly complex global industry.
As live entertainment continues to expand across music, sport and other experiences, the achievements of these leaders demonstrate the importance of recognising the people behind the performances, venues and productions that bring audiences together.
Source: Pollstar — Women of Live 2026 Honorees Celebrated in Beverly Hills
