Explained: The Purpose Of The Pink Ball Co-chaired By Isha Ambani At The British Museum
The fundraiser event celebrated a shared cultural future, spotlighting India’s creative legacy and global influence marked by Isha Ambani’s presence and the symbolic pink theme
For the first time in the British Museum’s 272-year-old history, the institution became a host to the inaugural Pink Ball. It was a major fundraising gala event co-chaired by India’s business tycoon Isha Ambani and Director of the British Museum, Dr. Nicholas Cullinan OBE. The celebratory evening brought together nearly 800 guests from the world of art, fashion, politics, and philanthropy, each dressed in elegant shades of pink and seated inside the British Museum’s glass-domed Great Court which was decked as per the pink theme.
The attendees included Naomi Campbell, Mick Jagger, Edward Enninful, Bharti Kher, Subodh Gupta, Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty, amongst others dignitaries, each adding to the evening’s theme of celebrating cultural connection with creativity.
Behind the scenes, a 90-member honorary committee featuring names like Miuccia Prada, Idris Elba, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, and Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani lent their support, underlining the museum’s growing commitment to inclusive cultural patronage. Guests were treated to an Indian-inspired dinner and a special performance by acclaimed British sitarist Anoushka Shankar, alongside other surprise acts turning the evening into a celebration of art, colour, and cultural dialogue.
The Purpose of Pink Ball
Beyond the high-octane glamour, the purpose of the Pink Ball was meaningful: to create a more interconnected cultural future. To active this, the event was aimed at celebrating London’s role as a global hub of creativity and to raise funds for the British Museum’s international partnerships including collaborations with Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), as well as supporting projects in other countries such as Kumasi Palace in Ghana, the History Museum of Armenia and projects in Iraq, and Benin City.
As a result, the sold-out fundraiser, with tables of 10 guests priced at £20,000, raised essential funds to sustain the museum’s global cultural collaborations.
Why Isha Ambani Co-Chaired the Pink Ball?
Isha Ambani’s involvement in the Pink Ball was a natural extension of her ongoing advocacy for Indian art and global cultural exchange. As the driving force behind Mumbai’s Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) and serving on the boards of LACMA, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, and the Yale Schwarzman Center, she has led cross-cultural collaborations globally, making her a suitable fit as co-chair of the first-ever Pink Ball.
For the Pink Ball, Ambani worked closely with the British Museum team to shape the event’s vision—from its Indian-inspired theme to its philanthropic mission. Her fashion choice for the evening featuring a handcrafted Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla couture gown made by over 35 artisans who spent 3,670 hours bringing the ensemble to life, paired with heirloom emeralds from her mother Nita Ambani’s collection further showcased how she carried the soul of India with her ensemble.
Why was the theme Pink?
The pink theme at The Pink Ball was a homage to the British Museum’s closing exhibition ‘Ancient India: Living Traditions’, where the hue played a central visual and symbolic role. Chosen as the evening’s signature colour, it was not the playful “Barbie” shade one might imagine, but a refined tone of pink with hints of purple—elegant, vibrant, and culturally resonant.
As Cullinan explained, “It has to be the right pink—not too blush, not too loud, just perfectly balanced.” Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the theme also reflected the museum’s enduring connection with India.
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Isha Ambani, emphasised on the theme tied to India calling it a celebration of age-old creativity. “In India, pink is the colour of warmth, welcome and joy. It evokes a spirit of openness and grace integral to our culture. My hope is that our evening will be a reflection of these values, bringing global communities closer, fostering deep mutual respect and understanding.”
By spotlighting India’s creative heritage within one of the world’s most influential museums, the Pink Ball reframed legacy as shared heritage. With its resounding success, the British Museum confirmed that the Pink Ball will now be an annual event fostering cultural dialogue with art, culture, and collaboration.