NYC AGING HOSTS FOURTH ANNUAL 'TALENT IS TIMELESS' GRAND FINALE

Annual Talent Competition Showcases Older New Yorkers' Artistic Excellence while Challenging Ageist Stereotypes

New York, NY - The NYC Department for the Aging (NYC Aging), alongside Mayor Zohran Mamadani, hosted the 2026 Talent is Timeless Grand Finale at the historic United Palace theater in Washington Heights. Now in its fourth year, Talent is Timeless was created to push back against ageist stereotypes and showcase older adults' abilities to entertain audiences.

The Grand Finale brought together hundreds of older New Yorkers from across the city to watch acts compete for first place. To get on the stage, older New Yorkers had to first get through local, regional and borough wide competitions.

"Being able to age-in-place goes beyond seeing a doctor or buying medicine, it means being involved in your community and having the opportunity to pursue your passions and interests. NYC Aging's Talent is Timeless competition does all that and more, and I am proud that we live in a city where these opportunities are possible," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. "I would like to congratulate all the acts who performed today and hope that even more New Yorkers realize it is never too late to do what you love."

"The older adults who performed today once again showed age has nothing to do with how well someone can entertain an audience, and I want to congratulate all the performers for putting on an incredible show," said NYC Aging Commissioner Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie. "Still, too often ageist stereotypes prevent older adults from contributing to the arts and other industries, where they can use their talent and expertise to reach their goals. Talent is Timeless proves that to be true and helps others to see it as well."

For the fourth year, Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Jackie Hoffman was the show's emcee. Joining her as celebrity judges were dancer Lilian Colon; Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer and actress Kecia Lewis; producer and Tony Award winner Irene Grandi; multi-award-winning actress and dancer Ching Valdes-Aran; actor Antonio Melenciano; and actor and director Guy Sorman.

In addition to a trophy and the title of grand finale winner, the top finalists also received:

• Audience Choice: a special experience for up to 25 guests at the Whitney Museum of American Art, including complimentary admission and a private guided tour of a Whitney exhibition led by a museum educator.
• First Place (solo): a special experience for up to two guests at the Whitney Museum of American Art, including complimentary admission and a private guided tour of a Whitney exhibition led by a museum educator.
• First Place (group): a special experience for up to 25 guests at the Whitney Museum of American Art, including complimentary admission and a private guided tour of a Whitney exhibition led by a museum educator.
• All the finalists were also entered into a drawing, and two of them will win a round-trip flight, compliments of JetBlue.

This year's first place solo winner and audience choice was Paulina Hiraldo, singing Pro Testro; first place group was New York Love and Dance Troupe, Chinese Dance, Peonies in Bloom; coming in second place was Barbara Gray, singing Walking' After Midnight; third place was Gian Hua "Jonathan" Yu performing a folk dance called The Place of Heroes and Great Horses.

"It's an honor to once again host talented fellow seniors, now that I'm 65. It's like we're all aging together" said Jackie Hoffman.

"Talent knows no age, and creativity has no expiration date," said Antonion Melenciano. "The 2026 Talent Is Timeless Talent Show is a wonderful celebration of passion, courage, and the joy of artistic expression. I'm honored to serve as a judge and look forward to witnessing the extraordinary gifts these performers will share with us."

"This wonderful event, 'Talent is Timeless', is one of the most delightful and surprising collection of performances I've had the pleasure to enjoy and 'judge' in my career!" said Guy Stroman.

"We are no longer sitting in our rocking chairs. We are singing and dancing into our golden years. We are vibrant and full of life and ready to show the world we still got it" said Lillian Colon. "Thank you to the Department for the Aging and the City of New York for the opportunity to judge and choreograph for the past four years. Let's keep singing, dancing, rocking and feeling vibrant into our golden years."
"I am so excited to be returning for the second year as a judge for this amazing event," said Irene Gandy. "Being a senior myself and still active, my energy was matched by these original and dynamic performances. As a Broadway producer for over 50 years, the Tony Award for Best Performance should go to this NYC Department for the Aging production."

" It is a great privilege to be a part of this fun, inspiring event honoring our community of elders sharing their talents!" said Ching Valdes-Aran. "Thank you, NYC Aging, for your care and support!"

"Being part of Talent is Timeless is one of the highlights of my year - every artist on that stage proves that talent, courage, and joy only grow with time" said Kecia Lewis. "I'm honored to stand with New Yorkers who are rewriting what it means to age."

"Our neighborhoods are full of people with a gift to share and a dream still taking shape," said Madeline V. Marquez, Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer at Ponce Bank. "Ponce Bank believes in nurturing that possibility at every age. We're delighted to support Talent is Timeless and celebrate older New Yorkers who remind us how much we have to look forward to and how much we have to offer."

"Talent is Timeless reflects a belief at the heart of our work at Juilliard: artistic growth can continue across a lifetime," said John-Morgan Bush, Dean of Juilliard Extension. "It was our privilege to welcome this year's finalists to the Juilliard campus for training ahead of the Grand Finale and to support them as they prepared to take the stage. Their commitment to their craft reflects the artistic excellence and creative ambition that enrich the cultural life of New York City."

"Congratulations to all of this year's Talent is Timeless participants! The talent, creativity, and commitment of the participants remind us that the arts enrich our lives at every age" said Jane Carey, Director of Community and Government Affairs, Whitney Museum of American Art. "The Whitney Museum of American Art is honored to partner with the City of New York's Department for the Aging on this remarkable program and to celebrate the role that arts and cultural experiences play in bringing people together, sparking curiosity, and strengthening communities." 

"ITO EN is proud to support Talent is Timeless and honored to be part of this inspiring event by providing samples of Oi Ocha, our signature unsweetened green tea. With zero sugar and no added artificial sweeteners, Oi Ocha offers a clean, refreshing beverage choice that helps attendees stay energized and refreshed throughout the day" said Rob Smith, Chief Sales Officer, ITO EN. "We are delighted to share a product that reflects our commitment to wellness while celebrating the timeless talent and achievements of the event's participants."

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About NYC Aging:
The NYC Department for the Aging's (NYC Aging) mission is to eliminate ageism and empower older adults to live independently in their communities. Through a network of more than 300 older adult centers and naturally occurring retirement communities, NYC Aging provides vital programs and resources to nearly 1.8 million older New Yorkers, fostering their physical and mental well-being.