Gala Information
When, where, and how much?
The 19th Annual Whitney Awards Gala will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Time: 6:00pm – Doors open for check-in and mingle.
6:45 – Dinner is served
The gala may be attended virtually, or in person at the Utah Valley Convention Center.
Ticket prices are as follows:
$65 for in-person (includes dinner and dessert)
$25 for a virtual ticket
Can I sell my ticket to a friend or purchase a ticket from someone else?
Tickets can be sold or gifted. If you choose to sell or gift your tickets, please email us at whitneyawards@storymakersguild.org so we can update the guest list.
*Please be advised that the meal choice originally assigned to the ticket cannot be changed.
Who can attend the Whitney Awards gala?
Anyone interested is welcome to attend. The gala is a public event in honor of some amazing Latter-day Saint authors.
Attendance will be capped at 280. Anyone who cannot attend the gala in person is welcome to watch the broadcast. Tickets are required for the broadcast.
How do I check in at the gala?
There will be a check-in area outside the entrance to the ballroom, manned by our committee members. We will check your name on our master ticket list, and welcome you to the gala.
What if I don’t remember what meal I chose?
When you check in, you will be given a slip of paper with your meal choice on it, to simplify things for you and the wait staff.
Where can I park?
Please visit the Utah Valley Convention Center website for parking information at http://utahvalleycc.com/parking
How do I buy tickets?
Gala-only tickets or tickets with Storymakers Conference registration can be purchased, get your tickets here!
The deadline for purchasing in-person gala tickets is April TBD 2026 and the deadline for purchasing virtual tickets is May TBD, 2026.
If you need help finding a ticket or selling a ticket you purchased, please email whitneyawards@storymakersguild.org.
Why is there a charge for tickets, and as a finalist, do I get in free?
Event costs are covered by the ticket price. If your publisher or another interested party would like to sponsor a table or a finalist, please direct them to whitneyawards@storymakersguild.org
If I’m not a finalist, is there a point to going to the gala?
Yes, yes, yes. Honoring the hard work of talented Latter-day Saint authors is an important endeavor. The sense of community at the Whitney gala every year is almost overpowering, and bearing witness to the great love and respect that authors from our community go out of their way to show each other is a heart-warming experience.
What do I wear to the Whitney Awards gala?
Whitney wardrobe choices vary from Sunday best to formal dress. Finalists and presenters tend to gravitate toward dressier attire. Full-sized ball gowns and top hats are pretty rare, but we welcome attendees and finalists alike to embrace the excitement of the occasion. Many attendees in the past have felt comfortable in Sunday best, but you don’t have to be a finalist or award presenter to have a little fun with your wardrobe choices.
Does the gala have assigned seating?
Seating is not assigned, but tables closer to the front are reserved for finalists, committee members, etc. Seating is open in both the reserved and unreserved sections. When you check in, we will let you know which section you may choose a seat in. Reserved tables will be marked accordingly.