On the eve of the 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards, the celebration began not on a stage, but inside one of New York City’s most celebrated beauty destinations.
Hosted at ELIUT Salon, celebrity hairstylist Eliut Rivera welcomed guests for an intimate Opening Night gathering that brought together founders, creators, innovators, media personalities, and industry leaders for an evening dedicated to connection, conversation, and celebration before the city’s biggest night in beauty.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Wellness expert, Hilaria Baldwin, and Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of Gurus Magazine, Derek Warburton, welcome the Opening Night of the 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
Co-hosted by wellness expert Hilaria Baldwin and Derek Warburton, Publisher, Founder, and Editor-in-Chief of Gurus Magazine, Opening Night set the tone for the days ahead. The evening offered guests an opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends, meet new collaborators, and celebrate the community that continues to shape the beauty and wellness industries.
Long before the awards were presented, the room was already filled with the energy that defines the Gurus Beauty Awards. Conversations flowed effortlessly as guests mingled throughout the beautifully designed salon, where every detail reflected the warmth and creativity of the occasion.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Miriam Smotrich, renowned fertility specialist Dr. David Smotrich of La Jolla IVF, and Hilaria Baldwin attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Derek Warburton and ZTA Entertainment’s Stephanie Winston Wolkoff attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: The Trouble with Billy stars William McNamara, Claudia Charriez, and Randall Batinkoff attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Fashion stylist Nolé Marin and Eliut Rivera of ELIUT Salon attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
Adding to the evening’s atmosphere were handcrafted cocktails from Broken Shed Vodka, elegantly served on decorative bird cages, alongside curated wines from Hersly Wines. Guests also enjoyed an unforgettable pasta bar featuring specialties from The Blonde Italian, creating an experience that felt equal parts sophisticated and welcoming.
Hersly Wines – the official wine sponsor (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
Broken Shed Vodka and Hersly Wines – the official wine and spirit sponsors (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Lauren Falcione, Founder of The Blonde Italian, sponsors Pasta Bar for the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Hilaria Baldwin joins The Blonde Italian, Lauren Falcione’s pasta bar for the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
Opening Night also marked the official unveiling of the latest print edition of Gurus Beauty, featuring wellness expert and Gurus Beauty Awards co-host Hilaria Baldwin on the cover. Guests were among the first to receive copies of the special edition, adding another memorable moment to an evening dedicated to celebrating beauty, creativity, and community.
The evening was transformed by breathtaking floral installations from William NYC Flowers, whose vibrant arrangements brought the space to life and complemented the salon’s modern elegance. In a thoughtful surprise, guests were invited to take home beautifully arranged floral displays featuring professionally printed portraits celebrating members of the Gurus community. Together, the venue, florals, food, and cocktails created an environment where meaningful conversations unfolded naturally, and new friendships began.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Derek Warburton together with Molly Goggins Talbot (L) and Hersly Wines team, Stacy Soberalski Hersly and Adam Hersly attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Derek Warburton and writer Molly Heintz join the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
Among those attending were renowned fertility specialist Dr. David Smotrich of La Jolla IVF and his wife, socialite Miriam Smotrich; fashion expert and television personality Nolé Marin; acclaimed fashion designer Kobi Halperin; Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and David Wolkoff of ZTA Entertainment; the cast of The Trouble with Billy, including William McNamara, Claudia Charriez, and Randall Batinkoff, who attended alongside his wife, Hilary Batinkoff; Lauren Falcione, founder of The Blonde Italian; Bill Wiedemann of Lumara Systems; relationship expert Kara Francis; Robyn Newmark, Hollywood Beauty Guru and Editor-in-Chief of Beauty Guru Magazine; and Igor Vander, Editor-at-Large of Gurus Magazine. Throughout the evening, guests could be found reconnecting with colleagues, celebrating new partnerships, and looking ahead to the awards ceremony.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Modern Relationship Expert Kara Francis poses with her Beauty Guru Magazine cover at the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: La Jolla IVF Fertility Specialist, Dr. David Smotrich, poses with his Gurus Magazine cover at the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Bill Wiedemann, Founder and CEO of Lumara Systems, poses with his Beauty Guru Magazine cover at the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff and Hilaria Baldwin attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Derek Warburton with Gurus Magazine Editor-at-large Igor Vander (R) at the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Derek Warburton, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, William McNamara, Claudia Charriez, Randall Batinkoff and Hilaria Baldwin at the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Miriam Smotrich and acclaimed fashion designer Kobi Halperin attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
For the occasion, Hilaria Baldwin was gifted a stunning natural diamond timepiece from Frederique Constant, adding another elegant touch to an evening already defined by thoughtful details.
A natural diamond timepiece, the Frederique Constant Classics Manchette watch. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Hilaria Baldwin showcases the natural diamond Classics Manchette Watch by Frederique Constant during Opening Night of the 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
A special thank you to ELIUT Salon and Eliut Rivera for opening their doors and welcoming the Gurus community into such a beautiful space. Their hospitality helped create an atmosphere that perfectly reflected the spirit of Opening Night—warm, stylish, and centered on bringing people together.
The evening was proudly produced by Anna Rothschild PR, whose partnership helped bring the celebration to life, and would not have been possible without the generous support of William NYC Flowers, Broken Shed Vodka, Hersly Wines, and The Blonde Italian, whose contributions helped create an unforgettable experience for every guest in attendance.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: William McNamara, Hilaria Baldwin, and Eliut Rivera attend the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Dr. David Smotrich, Hilaria Baldwin, and Derek Warburton join the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Derek Warburton and Kara Francis join the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Hilaria Baldwin and Derek Warburton with Gurus Magazine cover at the Opening Night of 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Hilaria Baldwin poses with the Gurus Magazine during Opening Night of the 2026 Gurus Beauty Awards at ELIUT Salon on June 22, 2026, in New York City. (Photo by Dennis Tooshkanov)
