T&T – Kes the Band to Headline Gotham Health Gala at the Met

Trinidad and Tobago soca group Kes the Band is set to headline the 2026 Gotham Health Masquerade Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on November 12, bringing Caribbean music to one of the city’s most renowned cultural institutions.

The event, hosted by NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, will begin at 6:30 p.m. and bring together leaders from healthcare, business, government, philanthropy and the cultural sector for an evening of entertainment and fundraising.

Fronted by lead vocalist Kees Dieffenthaller, popularly known as Kes, the band has earned international recognition for its blend of soca, calypso, reggae, R&B and pop. Its popular songs include “Hello,” “Wotless” and “Savannah Grass,” which have become favourites among Caribbean music fans worldwide.

The gala, themed “Every Child Thrives,” will raise funds for Gotham Health’s Childhood Development Initiative, which aims to improve access to developmental screenings, early diagnosis, specialised paediatric care and support services for children and families across New York City’s five boroughs.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen referral systems, expand paediatric developmental and behavioural health services, recruit specialised clinicians and provide families with assistance navigating healthcare services.

Michelle Lewis, chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, said the event would combine an important fundraising effort with an opportunity to celebrate the organisation’s commitment to children’s health and development.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive,” Lewis said, noting that the funds raised would help identify developmental needs earlier, connect families to care sooner and strengthen services during the critical early years of childhood.

Gotham Health serves communities throughout New York City, providing accessible and affordable healthcare regardless of patients’ ability to pay. The organisation operates 29 healthcare sites across the five boroughs and serves more than 100,000 New Yorkers annually.

The November gala will provide an opportunity for supporters to contribute to programmes designed to address barriers to early childhood developmental care, particularly for families who face difficulties accessing timely assessments and specialised services.

For Kes the Band, the performance represents another opportunity to bring Trinidad and Tobago’s soca sound to a prominent international stage while contributing to a cause focused on children and families.