The countdown is on! Picasso Pets 2026: Wags to Riches, presented by VP Funds, takes over Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum on Saturday, Aug. 22 for an unforgettable evening benefiting Hand in Paw’s Animal-Assisted Therapy programs.
Already have your ticket? Consider this your game plan for the evening.
Still thinking about joining us? There’s still time — but not much! Read on for a taste of what awaits, then reserve your seat at Picasso Pets 2026.
If you have questions that aren't answered below, send us a note!
Picasso Pets wouldn’t be possible without the generous sponsors who help bring this special evening to life — and, more importantly, help make Hand in Paw’s work possible throughout the year. We’re incredibly grateful to the businesses, foundations, and individuals investing in our mission and the community we serve. Meet the sponsors making Picasso Pets 2026 possible.
Here’s the evening at a glance:
There’s plenty to do before dinner, so don’t cut your arrival too close. Give yourself time to grab a drink, explore the auction, visit the Photo Booth and Sandra Storm Wine Pull, meet Hand in Paw Therapy Teams, and take in the 2026 Picasso Pets art collection.
VIP guests get an extra hour to enjoy the Dogtopia VIP Experience, including hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, and the first look at this year’s original pet-inspired artwork.
Picasso Pets 2026: Wags to Riches is being held at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, located at 6030 Barber Motorsports Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35094. (Click here to get directions in Google Maps.)
NOTE: When using GPS, please be sure to select the Museum, not Barber Motorsports Park or the racetrack entrance. The park, racetrack, and museum have different entrances on the same property.
Free on-site parking and complimentary valet service will be available.
This year’s theme is Wags to Riches, and we’re channeling the glamour of the Art Deco era.
Think Art Deco cocktail attire: polished, festive, and ready for a night out. Metallics, jewel tones, geometric details, vintage-inspired accessories, fringe, feathers, and a little sparkle will all feel right at home.
The theme is an invitation, not an assignment. If you want to embrace the era fully — flapper-inspired fashion, dapper 1920s suiting, and all — absolutely go for it. But you do not need to buy a costume or dress head-to-toe in 1920s fashion. Cocktail attire is perfect all by itself.
Come hungry. Guests will enjoy a gourmet seated dinner from Bruno Hospitality featuring:
Bibb Lettuces | Toasted walnuts, dried cranberry, blue cheese, and Granny Smith apple vinaigrette
Petite Tenderloin | Veal jus, jumbo asparagus with shiitake mushrooms and garlic, and smashed fingerling melting potatoes
Zucchini Boat | Toasted quinoa, yellow corn, sweet peppers, spinach and roasted garlic, wild rice pilaf with shiitake mushrooms, and balsamic roasted seasonal vegetables
Cheesecake | Assorted berry coulis
If you have dietary restrictions or accessibility needs that we should know about, please contact Amanda Summers in advance so we can make your evening as comfortable as possible.
You may want to establish your bidding strategy before you arrive. This year’s live and silent auctions are stacked.
Among the Live Auction highlights:
And that’s just the live auction!
The Silent Auction includes a four-day, three-night Savannah getaway; a dog-themed Oh My Mahjong! set; six bottles of Patricia Green Cellars Oregon Pinot Noir; authenticated Lucille Ball memorabilia; art and pottery; pet packages; and enough sought-after bourbon to make a whiskey collector start plotting before they ever reach Barber.
Every winning bid supports Hand in Paw’s mission, so competitive bidding is not only permitted — it’s practically philanthropy.
Yes — and you don’t need to have a Hand in Paw Therapy Animal to win!
One of the signature lots in the Live Auction is the opportunity for your pet to become the Face of Picasso Pets 2027. The winning pet will inspire next year’s gala and become the centerpiece of its creative identity. You’ll work with the Hand in Paw team to help shape the theme and creative vision, with your pet featured throughout the campaign leading up to the 26th Annual Picasso Pets.
This year’s Face, Ginger, was the beloved rescue pet of Ashley and Dr. Farrell Mendelsohn. Our Wags to Riches theme celebrates Ginger’s story and the wonderful ways rescue animals enrich our lives.
Next year, the story could begin with yours.
They’re the tradition that started it all. Each Picasso Pets artwork is commissioned by a donor in support of Hand in Paw — and their pet gets to help create it.
During a special painting session, the pet makes the first marks on the canvas. From there, a local artist transforms those paw prints into an original work of art created especially for the donor. The completed 2026 collection will be on display during Picasso Pets, with VIP guests receiving the first look during the Dogtopia VIP Experience.
Interested in commissioning a Picasso Pets artwork in 2027? Contact Margaret Stinnett to learn more.
We know. It feels mildly scandalous to attend something called Picasso Pets without your pet. But please leave your four-legged family members at home. Only participating, on-duty Hand in Paw Therapy Teams should attend the event. Don’t worry — there will still be plenty of paws in the building!
All guests can look forward to a lively evening featuring:
VIP guests also receive access to the Dogtopia VIP Experience from 5-6 p.m., featuring hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, the first look at the 2026 Picasso Pets art collection, and a tasting of Two Bitch Bourbon’s Eureka Gold Bourbon.
Plus, select Silent Auction items will feature a Buy It Now option — giving VIP guests the first opportunity to claim a favorite before General Admission begins. See something you absolutely have to have? You may not have to bid on it at all.
We accept all major credit cards and checks. If you’re planning to bid big — and we certainly won’t discourage you — paying by check is especially helpful. It reduces processing fees, which means more of your generosity stays focused on Hand in Paw’s mission. A check can also make checkout easier if hundreds of phones decide to compete for bandwidth at the same time.
Picasso Pets is Hand in Paw’s largest annual fundraiser, and the money raised during this one evening helps make our work possible throughout the year. Hand in Paw recruits, trains, evaluates, and supports volunteer Therapy Teams who serve hospitals, schools, libraries, workplaces, human service organizations, and other Program Partners across Central Alabama and Tuscaloosa.
Hand in Paw has never charged a Program Partner for its services. And with your support, we never will.
Your ticket, auction bids, Wine Pull purchase, sponsorship, and other support help put professionally trained Therapy Teams where they can create meaningful moments of comfort, connection, motivation, and healing.
The dinner is wonderful. The auction is fun. The setting is spectacular.
But that’s why we’re gathering.
Not at all! Picasso Pets is one way to support the mission, but there are plenty of others. You can volunteer, become a Therapy Team, make a one-time gift, attend another Hand in Paw event, or join The Pack, our community of monthly donors. There’s room in this mission for everyone.
Not yet, but the clock is ticking! The 25th Annual Picasso Pets: Wags to Riches, presented by VP Funds, happens Saturday, Aug. 22, at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Online ticket sales will end this Sunday, August 16, at 5 p.m. After that, you will need to call us (205-322-5144) to reserve your space.
Get Tickets Today!
