As our city marks the nation’s 250th anniversary, you’re invited to an unforgettable evening where history doesn’t just live on the page—it comes alive.

This year’s Rosenbacchanal will unfold with evocative theatrical vignettes and sumptuous musical moments inspired by the bold, brilliant voices found in the Rosenbach’s collection—voices that helped shape the American story.

The Rittenhouse
210 West Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA

6:00 p.m.
Cocktail Hour

7:00 p.m.
Seated Dinner, Performances, and Live Auction

Black Tie or Festive Attire

Online registration for Rosenbacchanal 2026 has closed.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets or sponsorships, please contact Megan McCarthy at mmccarthy@rosenbach.org

All proceeds advance the mission of the Rosenbach Museum & Library. Learn more about the impact of your support.

Auction Overview

Lot 1: A Literary Adventure in New York with Kelsey Scouten Bates

Step into the literary heart of New York City for an unforgettable day curated and hosted by Rosenbach Director Kelsey Scouten Bates. You and up to four guests will enjoy exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to some of the city’s most storied bookish institutions—from a private tour of the remarkable library at the Grolier Club to an elegant lunch in the stately dining room of the University Club of New York. The day concludes with a visit to James Cummins Bookseller, one of the nation’s premier rare book dealers, where you’ll explore a curated selection of exceptional volumes. 

A rare opportunity to experience New York’s literary world from the inside in true Rosenbach fashion and expertise! 

Limited to 6 guests. Does not include travel to/from New York.

Lot 2: Reader’s Choice: An Evening Behind the Bookcase

Gather up to ten fellow bibliophiles for an unforgettable evening of discovery, conversation, and conviviality at the Rosenbach. This exclusive experience invites you to curate your own journey through the collection—bringing your favorite texts, themes, and curiosities to life. 

Working closely with a Rosenbach staff member of your choosing, you’ll design a bespoke Behind the Bookcase tour tailored to your interests. Your private program is followed by an elegant, catered dinner in the Rosenbach’s historic dining room. 

Shape the evening around your passions: 

• Love and Longing — Emilie Parker presents a selection of the most moving (and occasionally witty) love letters from the collection.  

• Mystery and the Macabre — Ed Pettit delves into the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula, revealing rare and remarkable highlights.  

• The Art of the Book — Bryn Michelson-Ziegler explores exquisite bindings, papers, and illustrations that elevate books to works of art.  

• Tea and Tradition — Alex Ames guides you through the rituals and history of the tea table. 

An intimate and highly personalized evening, this is a rare opportunity to experience the Rosenbach as few ever do—through your own lens, in the company of friends. 

Limited to 12 guests. 

Lot 3: A Collector’s Salon: Eileen Rosenau with Matthew Affron, Hosted High Above Rittenhouse Square

Step into the Rittenhouse Square home of Eileen Rosenau for a rare opportunity to experience a major private collection through the eyes of the person who built it. Eileen will guide guests through her newly installed collection, offering insight into the vision, instincts, and stories that shape her remarkable holdings.  

In conversation with Matthew Affron, Muriel and Philip Berman Curator of Modern Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, guests will encounter works by Andy Warhol, Dan Flavin, Cindy Sherman, Kenneth Noland, Frank Stella, Mickalene Thomas, Zanele Muholi, and other visionary artists—bringing a collector’s perspective into dynamic dialogue with curatorial scholarship. 

Donated by Eileen Rosenau

Limited to 20 guests.

Lot 4: A Tuscan Escape at Villa Regnalla Experience the romance of Tuscany with a stay at Villa Regnalla, a restored 16th-century olive mill nestled in the hills of Versilia. Just minutes from Pietrasanta and the seaside of Forte dei Marmi, the villa combines historic charm—most notably its original, glass-enclosed waterwheel—with modern comforts. Perfectly located, it provides easy access to Lucca and Pisa, as well as memorable trips along the Cinque Terre coastline.  

Designed for both relaxation and entertaining, the house sits on beautifully landscaped grounds with a swimming pool, tennis court, gardens, and shaded outdoor living spaces, perfect for long, relaxed meals. Inside, guests will discover spacious common areas, a professional-grade kitchen, and five luxurious ensuite bedrooms with Carrara marble bathrooms, including a private master suite with dual bathrooms.  

Modern amenities like air conditioning, heating, WiFi, and satellite TV ensure a comfortable stay, while optional local services, including a private chef, housekeeping, drivers, and expert guides, can be arranged upon request.    

Donated by the Skylight Foundation. Learn more here (Password: Philadelphia)

Trips must be booked by October 16, 2026, with travel occurring in calendar year 2027 or 2028. Does not include airfare or transportation.

Lot 5: Biblioconnections: A Literary Salon with Renaissance Man Wesley Stace and the Rosenbach’s Edward G. Pettit, Hosted by Lenni H. Steiner & Perry A. Lerner in Sylvan Chestnut Hill 

“Only connect…”—the epigraph to Howards End by E. M. Forster—sets the tone for this lively literary salon at the gracious home of Lenni Steiner and Perry Lerner. Join Wesley Stace and Ed Pettit for drinks and a light supper as they trace the intricate web of connections linking great works of literature across time, revealing unexpected dialogues between texts and ideas. This unique evening, pitched somewhere between a talk by a two-man relay team and a parlor game, partly planned, and partly improvised, is guaranteed to surprise and delight. “Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted.”  

Donated by Lenni H. Steiner and Perry A. Lerner

Limited to 20 guests.

Lot 6: A Nation of Artists: Private Curatorial Tours & Lunch at Stir

Step inside one of Philadelphia’s most ambitious exhibitions with an insider experience designed for true art lovers. You and six guests will enjoy private, curator-led tours of A Nation of Artists, presented across two of the city’s leading institutions: the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. 

This landmark exhibition brings together masterworks from each museum’s celebrated American art collections, placed in dynamic dialogue with extraordinary loans from the Middleton Family Collection—one of the most distinguished private collections of American art in the world. 

At PMA, you will be guided by Alexandra Kirtley, Montgomery-Garvan Curator of American Decorative Arts and Manager of the Center for American Art. At PAFA, Lea C. Stephenson, Kenneth R. Woodcock Curator of Historical American Art, will lead your exploration. 

Your day unfolds as a seamless, behind-the-scenes journey: begin with an intimate morning tour at one museum, pause midday for a relaxed lunch at Stir, and continue in the afternoon at the second institution. An exceptional opportunity to experience treasures of American art through the eyes of those who know it best! 

Donated by Emily Cavanagh and Amy Coes

Limited to 8 guests.