2026 Black Business Awards
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February 26, 2026
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CLICK HERE
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2026 Black Business Awards • February 26, 2026 • CLICK HERE •
Celebrating how investment in Black-owned businesses
creates a ripple effect across Madison’s economy and community.
Thursday, February 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 an elevated experience designed to celebrate
leadership, legacy, and lasting impact, where guests will enjoy:
Guests can expect:
The Black Wall Street Marketplace, showcasing a curated selection of Black-owned businesses
Fine dining, featuring a thoughtfully prepared seated dinner
A dynamic live DJ, setting the tone throughout the evening
A refined program recognizing excellence in business and community leadership
An elegant flow from powerful moments into dancing, late-evening shopping, and continued connection
Dress Code: Era’s Elegance a 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.
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.
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 Day of Community, History & Economic Reflection
Leading into the evening celebration, MBCC is planning a daytime experience designed to engage students, families, and the broader community through education, storytelling, and shared reflection on Black economic legacy. Additional details will be announced as programming is finalized.
A Story Worth the Spotlight
As part of our Black History Month programming, 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 free, daytime experience sets the tone for a full day of impact, leading into the Black Wall Street Marketplace and culminating in The Era’s Ball, an evening honoring legacy and leadership.
Additional details and programming highlights will be shared soon.
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.