Military Balls and Galas 2026: Marine Corps Balls, USO Galas and More
Military balls and galas are where the service community dresses up, honors its own and raises money for the causes that matter. Here are the upcoming balls, galas and benefit dinners on the Frontline calendar, from Marine Corps birthday balls to USO and police foundation galas.
November is peak season. The Marine Corps celebrates its birthday on November 10, and balls are held across the country that week. Many veteran and military family nonprofits also hold their biggest fundraiser of the year around Veterans Day.
Upcoming military balls and galas
| Event | City | Date |
|---|---|---|
| USO Northwest Five Star Gala and Auction | Renton, WA | Sat, Oct 17 |
| Veterans Inc. 35th Anniversary Gala Military Ball | Worcester, MA | Sat, Oct 24 |
| 251st Marine Corps Birthday Ball (Rochester) | Rochester, MN | Sat, Nov 7 |
| 2026 True Blue Gala | Chicago, IL | Sat, Nov 7 |
| Folds of Honor Annual Gala 2026 | Dallas, TX | Sat, Nov 7 |
| Star Spangled Ball Casino Night 2026 | Fresno, CA | Sat, Nov 7 |
| 251st Marine Corps Ball (Ione) | Ione, CA | Tue, Nov 10 |
| Marine Corps Ball | Jacksonville, FL | Tue, Nov 10 |
| Coast Guard Foundation Annual Benefit Dinner 2026 | New York, NY | Sat, Nov 14 |
| America First Gala Holiday Affair 2026 | Palm Beach, FL | Thu, Dec 3 |
| AUSA Monmouth Chapter Gingerbread Ball 2026 | Eatontown, NJ | Sat, Dec 5 |
| Toys for Tots Gala – Military Community Holiday Fundraiser | Washington, DC | Sat, Dec 5 |
| 2027 Hollywood Police Gala: The Golden Shield, A Masquerade of Honor | Hollywood, FL | Sat, Mar 6, 2027 |
| Midwest Honor Flight 10th Anniversary Gala | Sioux Falls, SD | Sat, Mar 13, 2027 |
Don’t see your unit’s ball or your foundation’s gala? List it free. Most listings go live within two business days.
What to know before you go
- Dress code. Military balls are usually mess dress or dress blues for service members and formal wear for guests. Charity galas are often black tie optional. The listing or invitation will say.
- Buy tickets early. Marine Corps balls and the larger foundation galas sell out, especially in November.
- Know where the money goes. Most galas raise money for scholarships, family support or veteran services. The event page links to the organizer so you can see who benefits.
See more on the military events calendar, the veterans events calendar, or every Veterans Day 2026 event.