Festival Napa Valley presented tenor and humanitarian Andrea Bocelli with the Angels of the Arts Award, the Festival’s highest honor.

The award was presented at the celebratory gala on Sept, 2026 14, 2026 at the historic Carolands Chateau in Hillsborough, California. The gala benefited the Addiction Education Society and Festival Napa Valley and the evening was presented in memory of Dane Johnson, whose family has long championed both organizations and generously supported the event.

In a statement, Festival Napa Valley President and CEO Richard Walker said, “Andrea Bocelli embodies the spirit of the Angels of the Arts Award through his extraordinary artistic achievements, enduring contributions to the arts, and philanthropic leadership. His work demonstrates the power of the arts to transform lives and strengthen communities.”

Addiction Education Society Executive Director Daniel Dadoun added, “We are deeply grateful to Festival Napa Valley, the Johnson family, and everyone who came together in support of this exceptional evening. Dane’s memory brought this community together, and their generosity enables us to continue bringing essential, science-based education to young people — education that helps them understand addiction before it touches their lives.”

The evening also saw Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, soprano Larisa Martínez, and pianist Peter Dugan perform selections from Voice and the Violin, in a performance generously underwritten by the Uytengsu family. Andrea Bocelli joined in with an impromptu rendition of “Panis Angelicus.”