IMPORTANT! VENUE CHANGE
Due to weather, the Gala will now be held in the Riverfront Ballroom at the Chase Center on the Riverfront
King Neptune Gala
Silent Auction is Live!
Now through Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 6:45 pm
Riverfront Ballroom
Chase Center on the Riverfront
815 Justison Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Explore our eclectic collection of can’t-miss experiences, fine art, unique treasures and fun surprises—and place your bids today!
You don’t have to attend the King Neptune Gala to join the fun and support the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. Place your bids from anywhere, and check back often as the competition heats up.
Save the date for next year's Grand 30th-Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 25, 2027!
King Neptune Award Winners
Our 19th-Annual King Neptune Gala, which benefits The Tall Ship of Delaware as well as our education programs on ship and shore, returns on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
We will honor Tracey Quillen Carney and the City of Wilmington’s Honorable Mayor John Carney for their outstanding contributions to the City and the State of Delaware, which have made a lasting impact. Among their many priorities, they are strong supporters of the public education programs that advance the mission of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation.
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s event will feature a black-tie optional cocktail reception in our museum and aboard
Kalmar Nyckel, followed by a formal, seated dockside dinner. Live music, along with silent and live auctions, are part of our festive evening.
Enjoy photos of last year's Gala by volunteer Thom Unger.
Thank You to Our Gala Sponsors
& Gala Host Benefactors
King Neptune Gala Sponsors
Godmother’s Circle $10,000
King Neptune’s Court $5,000
Mermaid’s Circle $2,500
Patron $1,500
Our Mission
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is a non-profit educational organization with the mission of preserving and promoting the cultural and maritime heritage of Delaware and the Delaware Valley for the education and enrichment of all. The Foundation is a volunteer-based organization that built, owns, and operates Kalmar Nyckel.