2026 Black Business Awards
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March 26, 2026
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CLICK HERE
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2026 Black Business Awards • March 26, 2026 • CLICK HERE •
Celebrating how investment in Black-owned businesses
creates a ripple effect across Madison’s economy and community.
Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 4:30 PM
Monona Terrace | Madison, WI
Purchase Era’s Ball Tickets | Become a Sponsor | Vendor Registration
A Defining Moment for the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce
For nearly a decade, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce has been committed to building opportunity, visibility, and access for Black-owned businesses in our community.
The Era’s Ball is more than an annual celebration, it is a moment of reflection, recognition, and recommitment.
This evening honors the work that has brought us here and invites our community, partners, and supporters to invest in what comes next.
Since 2013, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce has supported Black-owned businesses not only to survive, but to grow and lead. Each investment made through the Chamber strengthens more than one business, it supports employees, families, service providers, and neighborhoods across Madison. This expanding impact is the ripple effect of intentional economic development.
What to Expect
The Era’s Ball is the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce’s signature mission-centered fundraiser, bringing together leaders, entrepreneurs, and partners for an evening that honors legacy while investing in what comes next.
This elevated experience celebrates Black business excellence, community leadership, and the ripple effect created when individuals and organizations invest together.
Guests can expect:
An elegant flow from powerful moments into dancing, late-evening shopping, and networking opportunities with local business leaders
Experience the Black Wall Street Marketplace, showcasing a curated selection of Black-owned businesses
Visit community and historical exhibits and hear transformational stories of black business resilience
Experience a signature and curated meal, fit for the evening
A live DJ, setting the tone throughout the evening
A refined program recognizing excellence in business and community leadership
Dress Code: Eras of Elegance - Black Tie Affair
A modern interpretation honoring legacy, confidence, and elevated style. Think refined silhouettes, luxurious fabrics, and statement details worthy of an evening of impact.
The Ripple Effect: Celebrating Impact & Growth
An evening where legacy, connection, and collective impact come to life.
4:30 PM | The Ripple Begins
Step into an elevated experience featuring curated historical exhibits honoring Black business legacy and
the impact of the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce.
4:30 – 6:00 PM | Marketplace & Connections
Support Black-owned brands, build meaningful connections, and engage in a space where business and community thrive.
6:30 PM | Dinner & Program Experience
Enjoy a curated dining experience alongside a powerful program celebrating excellence, impact, and collective growth.
8:30 - 10:00 PM | Closing Celebration | The Ripple Continues
Music, dancing, and celebration as we carry the energy forward together.
Why This moment matters
The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is entering a new era. One shaped by growth, deeper impact, and expanded investment in Black business success.
Empowerment Catalyst
Impact Catalyst
Community Catalyst
Contributing Catalyst
Contributing Catalyst
Photo Booth Sponsor
Small Biz Ally
Small Biz Ally
Proceeds from The Era’s Ball support:
Business grants and programming
Capacity-building resources for entrepreneurs
Long-term initiatives that strengthen Madison’s Black business ecosystem
The Era’s Ball represents more than a celebration, it marks a moment of collective responsibility and opportunity. Funds raised through this event directly support MBCC programs, advocacy, and technical assistance that empower Black-owned businesses to grow. When one business succeeds, the impact extends outward, creating jobs, strengthening families, and contributing to a more resilient local economy. This is how legacy becomes momentum.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship of The Era’s Ball positions partners as catalysts for community-wide impact. Through their investment, sponsors help transform individual opportunity into sustained economic growth that benefits the broader Madison ecosystem. The Era’s Ball offers sponsors a unique opportunity to align with:
Economic empowerment
Community leadership
Long-term impact in Madison
Corporate partners play a vital role in advancing the Chamber’s mission and ensuring sustained support for Black-owned businesses.
Support the Work
Your support helps extend the impact of this work beyond a single moment, strengthening Black-owned businesses today while building economic opportunity for generations to come.
If you are unable to attend but would like to support the Chamber’s mission, we welcome your contribution.
Your donation directly supports programs and initiatives that strengthen Black businesses today and for generations to come.
A Full-Day Experience Rooted in Community
A Story Worth the Spotlight
We invite the community to experience The Official Black Wall Street Exhibit, a powerful visual and historical journey honoring legacy, resilience, and economic empowerment.
This experience will be featured as part of the evening’s celebration, leading into the Black Wall Street Marketplace and culminating in The Era’s Ball, an event honoring legacy, leadership, and the continued growth of Black-owned businesses.
Join Us
Whether you attend as a guest, support as a sponsor, or contribute as a donor, your presence matters.
The Era’s Ball is an invitation —
to honor the past,
to invest in the future,
and to move forward with purpose.
Our Valued Partners
