Kelly Clarkson will perform at a Miami charity gala on November 7 as the event marks more than $50 million raised and over 9,000 wishes granted to children with critical illnesses across South Florida

Kelly Clarkson (Instagram)

Kelly Clarkson will perform at the 31st annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball on November 7, 2026, bringing her chart-topping hits to a night built around hope, philanthropy and the power of a wish. The event, which has raised more than $50 million over the past 30 years, has helped grant the wishes of more than 9,000 children facing critical illnesses across Southern Florida, according to the gala’s official site and Good Housekeeping.Clarkson’s performance will be a private concert featuring songs including ‘Because of You’, ‘Stronger’ and her new single ‘I’d Be Lyin’. The announcement, shared on Instagram on October 23, drew an enthusiastic response from fans of ‘The Voice’, where Clarkson is currently a coach on season 30.

A night built around hope

The InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball is an annual fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, whose mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This year’s theme, the Crystal Castle, promises an evening of shimmering ice, celestial beauty and enchantment set within a snowy Celestine Peaks landscape.The ball is more than a dinner and a performance. It is a celebration of the wishes that have already been granted and a fundraising effort to ensure that every eligible child in the region can have their own wish fulfilled.The event’s organisers describe a wish as a powerful force, one that delivers hope, inspires courage and transforms lives. That framing is central to the gala’s identity, which has grown from a local fundraiser into one of Miami’s most recognisable philanthropic nights.

What the gala has achieved

Over the past 30 years, the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball has raised more than $50 million. That money has helped grant the wishes of more than 9,000 children facing critical illnesses throughout Southern Florida.Those numbers represent more than a fundraising milestone. Each wish granted is a moment of joy, escape or connection for a child and family navigating an illness that can dominate every part of daily life.The gala’s legacy is built on that accumulation of individual moments. Thirty years of dinners, auctions, performances and donations have added up to a body of work that continues to shape how the community supports its most vulnerable young people.

Kelly Clarkson’s role

Clarkson’s involvement brings a major cultural draw to the evening. The singer will perform a private concert of her biggest hits, giving guests a chance to hear songs that have defined her career in an intimate setting.Her connection to the cause goes beyond the performance itself. By lending her voice and star power to the gala, Clarkson helps amplify the message that a wish can be a turning point for a child facing a critical illness.The announcement of her performance came just days before she spoke about The Kelly Clarkson Show winning five Daytime Emmy Awards. The show ended in August after seven seasons, and Clarkson shared a heartfelt message thanking the team behind it.

How the evening unfolds

The ball begins at 6:30 pm with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, performances and the live auction. The after-party runs from midnight to 3 am, extending the night well beyond the formal program.The event is black tie, with complimentary valet parking at the InterContinental Miami at 100 Chopin Plaza. Guests are invited to step into the Crystal Castle theme, which promises a journey of fantasy, mystery and extraordinary philanthropy.The combination of a high-profile performer, an immersive theme and a live auction is part of what has made the gala a fixture on Miami’s social calendar. It is designed to raise both money and awareness for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida’s ongoing work.

Why the mission matters

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida’s work is grounded in the idea that a wish can change how a child and family experience illness. The organisation’s focus is not only on granting wishes but on ensuring that every eligible child has the chance to have one.The gala’s 31st year is a reminder of how much can be accomplished when a community commits to a cause over time. More than $50 million raised and more than 9,000 wishes granted represent decades of effort from donors, volunteers, staff and supporters.With Kelly Clarkson headlining the night, the 2026 ball aims to build on that legacy. The performance is a celebration of what has been achieved, and a signal that the work of granting wishes is far from over.