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Washington Elite
Investment Summit & Charity Gala · UNGA 2026
For Immediate Release
24 August 2026
Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition Appoints Lara Moreno to Lead Cultural Programming Across Its Ten-Day New York Series
The curator’s remit spans twelve events in Times Square from September 10 to 19, including BitcoinPalooza and the fourth annual Washington Elite Investment Summit & Gala — placing commissioned art and live performance in front of the investors, policymakers and founders who convene in New York for the UN General Assembly.
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NEW YORK, August 24, 2026 — The Porter Brothers today announced the appointment of Lara Moreno as Curator of Music, Art & Fashion for Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition. For the first time, a single curator holds authority over cultural programming across all twelve events, September 10–19 in Times Square. Commissioned work will remain installed for the full ten days — through BitcoinPalooza and the black-tie Washington Elite Investment Summit & Gala on September 18. Open call for artists closes September 4.
NEW YORK, August 24, 2026 — The Porter Brothers today announced the appointment of Lara Moreno as Curator of Music, Art & Fashion for Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition, the ten-day series they produce each September in Times Square through GlobalBoost.
Moreno’s remit covers the cultural programming across all twelve events on the 2026 calendar, running September 10 to 19. It is the first time the series has appointed a single curator with authority over the full program rather than treating each night’s entertainment separately.
The appointment reflects a deliberate strategic choice. The Washington Elite series has spent a decade convening capital, policy and emerging technology in the same room — energy, crypto, privacy, AI, space, and fashion. What the Porter Brothers have observed is that the deals and relationships that matter rarely form during the panels. They form in the rooms around them. Programming those rooms properly, with work worth looking at and performers worth staying for, is a commercial decision as much as a cultural one.
Under the new structure, work selected by Moreno will not be confined to a single evening. Commissioned and selected pieces will be installed across Blockchain Week venues for the duration of the series — carrying through the September 16–17 flagship conference at the Hard Rock Main Theatre, the September 17 BitcoinPalooza after-party, and the black-tie Washington Elite Investment Summit & Gala on September 18, now in its fourth consecutive year.
“We have spent ten years building rooms where serious capital meets serious technology. What we learned is that the room itself does the work — who is in it, what is on the walls, what is playing when people are actually talking to each other. Bringing Lara in is us taking that seriously instead of leaving it to chance.”
— Bruce Porter Jr., Co-Founder, Washington Elite; Founder, GlobalBoost
“A gala and a warehouse show are not the same audience, and I am not going to pretend they are. What I can do is make sure an artist’s work is seen properly in both — installed for ten days across Times Square, in front of collectors and founders and diplomats who would never walk into their gallery. That is a real opportunity, and I intend to treat it like one.”
— Lara Moreno, Curator of Music, Art & Fashion, Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition
Open Call — Submissions Now Accepted
Artists, performers and designers invited to submit
Alongside the appointment, Blockchain Week is opening a public call for musicians, visual artists, and fashion designers to take part in the 2026 series. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of Friday, September 4, 2026.
Selected artists retain full copyright in their work, set their own prices on anything offered for sale, and receive named credit wherever their work is shown. Exhibition space, installation support and transport between venues are provided by the production. Applicants do not need prior experience with blockchain or digital-asset events.
To submit, email lara@bitcoinpalooza.nyc with links to your work, a short note on what you would like to present, and any technical requirements. Full terms are provided in the artist agreement before any commitment is made.
From previous events
The energy Lara Moreno will shape — captured in Times Square.
Fashion meets capital — previous Blockchain Week night
BitcoinPalooza art — signature visual language
Commissioned art on the floor — previous edition
The 2026 series
Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition runs September 10 to 19, 2026 across Times Square. The 2026 calendar comprises twelve official events, opening with the Orbital Runway kickoff on September 10 and closing with the 24th annual International Day of Peace concert on September 19. The series includes a multistakeholder forum at United Nations Headquarters on September 14, the two-day flagship conference on September 16 and 17, and the Washington Elite Investment Summit & Gala on September 18.
| Series | Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition, September 10–19, 2026 |
| Flagship conference | September 16–17 · Hard Rock Main Theatre, Times Square |
| BitcoinPalooza | September 17 · 4th annual · Hard Rock Cafe Times Square |
| Investment Summit & Gala | September 18 · 6:00 PM – Midnight · Black tie · 4th consecutive year |
| Producer | GlobalBoost |
| Open call deadline | Friday, September 4, 2026 |
| Full program | blockchainweek.ai/program |
Charitable mission
A portion of proceeds from every Washington Elite event funds adaptive sports programs for blind veterans and disabled athletes, including the Washington Elite Blind Hockey Initiative. The initiative has supported major tournaments in partnership with the Blind Veterans Association and at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, covering jerseys, ice time, travel and adaptive equipment for participating athletes.
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About Washington Elite
The Washington Elite Investment Summit & Charity Gala is presented annually by the Porter Brothers, convening investors, policymakers and innovators at the intersection of elite capital and emerging technology — across energy, fashion, crypto and digital assets, privacy, AI and space. The 2026 edition takes place September 18 in Times Square, New York City. Proceeds support adaptive sports initiatives for blind veterans and disabled athletes.
About GlobalBoost
GlobalBoost is a New York–based event production company that builds the platforms where blockchain, policy, capital and culture meet. Founded by Bruce Porter Jr. and David Porter, who have produced blockchain events internationally for more than fifteen years, GlobalBoost produces Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition, BitcoinPalooza, and the Washington Elite Investment Summit & Gala.
Media contact
press@WashingtonElite.com ·
+1 (202) 436-6577
Curator and artist enquiries: Lara Moreno,
lara@bitcoinpalooza.nyc
BitcoinPalooza media kit and brand assets:
bitcoinpalooza.nyc/press
Blockchain Week — UNGA Edition is an independent initiative and is not affiliated with, organized by, endorsed or sponsored by the United Nations.
🚀 Orbital Runway
The Opening Night of Blockchain Week – UNGA Edition during NYFW
About the Event
Lift off into the digital frontier at Orbital Runway — the official opening night of Blockchain Week – UNGA Edition (Sept 10–19), taking place during New York Fashion Week (NYFW).
Presented in partnership with Hooked-App, this space-themed spectacle transforms Hard Rock Cafe Times Square into a portal between high fashion and Web3 culture. Expect a night of breathtaking visual storytelling, live runway showcases, and unparalleled networking with the visionaries shaping the future of blockchain, design, and digital identity — all in the heart of NYFW.
What to Expect
Immersive Visuals
Space-themed atmosphere with cinematic projections and interactive art.
Prime Networking
Connect with top-tier founders, builders, investors, and designers in NYC during Fashion Week.
Week-Long Kickoff
Be the first to celebrate the start of Blockchain Week – UNGA Edition alongside NYFW.
👗 Dress Code
Futuristic / Space-inspired / Fashion-forward
Think Metaverse-meets-Metropolis — bold silhouettes, reflective textures, metallic accents, sleek lines, and avant-garde accessories. Orbital elegance is highly encouraged for this NYFW-adjacent night.
🕐 Doors open at 6:00 PM. Please arrive early for check-in.
RSVP NOW – Secure Your Boarding Pass
Space is limited. High-profile event requiring registration.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY – July 30, 2026
From Priority Round to Powerhouse Roster: UN Blockchain Week 2026 Unveils Expanding Visionary Lineup as Advanced Ticket Pricing Ends August 1
What began as a tightly curated priority speaker window has rapidly evolved into one of the most ambitious lineups in blockchain event history. Just days after the priority round closed, UN Blockchain Week 2026 has confirmed a powerhouse roster of global visionaries spanning Bitcoin pioneers, AI architects, cultural innovators, institutional leaders, and policy advisors.
The expansion signals something larger than a typical conference announcement. It reflects a genuine convergence moment: the same week 193 nations gather for UNGA 81 and New York Fashion Week lights up the runways, Times Square will host the builders, policymakers, and capital allocators rewriting the operating system of the global economy.
Confirmed Visionaries Include:
- Brock Pierce – Bitcoin OG and Blockchain Pioneer
Futurist, Philanthropist, Economist, Creator • Bitcoin OG • Blockchain Pioneer - Vít Jedlička – President of Liberland
President of Liberland - Hugh Dugan – Diplomat & Author
Blockchain Diplomacy & the United Nations - Bruce Porter Jr. – Master of Ceremonies, UN Blockchain Week
UN Blockchain Week • CEO at GlobalBoost - Lou Kerner – Founder, DAIAA + CryptoMondays
Founder, DAIAA + CryptoMondays - Karla Ballard – Future of Work – Blockchain – Cultural Architect
HUMN / Blockchain for Communities - Alex Lightman – CEO, inventor, speaker, author, policy advisor, artist
Token Communities / Blockchain Education - Nikita (Sachdev) Lord – Founder and CEO of Luna PR
Luna PR & Luna Media Corp - Nisa Amoils – Managing Partner A100x Ventures
A100x Ventures • AI & Blockchain - Jimmy Nguyen – Founder New Win Ventures
New Win Ventures – IP, Data & Tokenization - Mihaela Ulieru – Professor of AI & Distributed Intelligence
SingularityNET / ASI Chain - Bryan Talebi – CEO and Co-founder Ahura AI
Ahura AI - Carsten Stöcker – Founder Spherity
Spherity – Legal Authority for AI Agents - Luciana Miranda – Head of Institutional Growth Sphere Labs
Sphere Labs (ex-Goldman, DB, BofA)
…plus dozens more leading policymakers, institutional investors, builders, and founders. The complete and continuously updated list lives at unblockchainweek.com/speakers.
This is no longer a shortlist of early acceptances. It is a living map of the people actively building the next layer of money, intelligence, energy, governance, culture, and community.
What Attendees Will Experience
UN Blockchain Week (September 10–19, 2026) is not a single conference — it is 100+ experiences unfolding across Times Square while the world’s diplomatic and fashion capitals collide. Highlights already locked in include:
- The flagship two-day UN Blockchain Week Conference (September 16–17) with keynotes on Blockchain’s Role in Global Governance, Nation-State Bitcoin Adoption, AI Agents & Decentralized Systems, Blockchain for the Energy Transition, and The Space Economy & Blockchain.
- The exclusive Washington Elite Investment Summit & Gala (September 18) — black-tie, invitation-driven, and the legendary deal-making and networking pinnacle of the week.
- NYFW × Blockchain Runway moments, private roundtables, workshops, fireside chats, and side events spanning Bitcoin, AI & Energy, Space, Privacy & Liberty, and Fashion-Tech.
Confirmed speakers receive full 10-day access, prime visibility, and an invitation to the Washington Elite Gala.
Ticket Prices Increase August 1 — Final Hours of Advanced Pricing
Advanced pricing remains available for a limited time only:
General Admission
$199
→ rises to $399 after August 1
Full Week Access
MOST POPULAR
VIP PASS
$999
→ rises to $1,500 after August 1
All-Access + Washington Elite Gala
- General Admission (Full Week Access): $199 (rises to $399 after August 1)
- VIP Pass (All-Access + Washington Elite Gala): $999 (rises to $1,500 after August 1)
Prices will increase automatically on August 1, 2026, and again on September 1. Early buyers save up to 80 percent, and VIP tickets are limited. Secure your place now at unblockchainweek.com.
Why This Moment Matters
In a year when geopolitical stakes at the United Nations have rarely been higher, the simultaneous presence of world leaders, institutional capital, and the builders rewriting money, intelligence, energy, governance, and culture creates a once-in-a-generation alignment. This is the room where policy meets possibility, where ideas leave the stage and enter global frameworks, and where the next chapter of Bitcoin, AI, and decentralized systems will be written in real time.
The roster is no longer theoretical. It is already one of the densest collections of high-signal minds gathering in any single city this decade. The energy is electric. The opportunity to shape outcomes — rather than merely observe them — has never been clearer.
Come to NYC to change the world.
Tickets, the full speaker list, and partnership opportunities are available at unblockchainweek.com.
Media Contact
For interview requests, additional assets, or partnership inquiries, contact the UN Blockchain Week / Washington Elite team via WashingtonElite.com or the official channels at UNBlockchainWeek.com.
About UN Blockchain Week
Now in its fourth year, UN Blockchain Week is the premier 10-day gathering at the intersection of blockchain, cryptocurrency, AI, energy, space, and policy. Taking place in the heart of Times Square during the United Nations General Assembly and New York Fashion Week, it convenes policymakers, institutional leaders, investors, and builders for high-impact dialogue and real-world outcomes.
The future is here.
And it’s walking the runway.
Join UN Blockchain Week 2026 — the intersection of UNGA, NYFW, Bitcoin, AI, Energy, Space & the Washington Elite Gala.
REGISTER NOW