Nate Bargatze to headline MC’s Bicentennial Gala on Sept. 29

Nate Bargatze, Grammy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated comedian, New York Times #1 bestselling author, podcaster, director and producer, will headline the Mississippi Christian University Foundation’s Bicentennial Gala on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in the A.E. Wood Coliseum on MC’s Clinton campus. Proceeds from the Bicentennial Gala, the single largest annual fundraising event for MC, benefit academic and athletic programs.

Hailed as “The nicest man in stand-up” by The Atlantic Magazine and “One of the funniest people” by CBS Mornings, Bargatze has been selling out shows and breaking venue attendance records with more than 2 million tickets sold on his current tour.

“This has been an incredible year celebrating our Bicentennial, and I cannot imagine a better ‘exclamation point’ than Nate Bargatze. We are thankful he has chosen to be with us for our Bicentennial Gala in September,” said MC President Blake Thompson.

The evening event will feature a seated dinner for table sponsors, a stand-up performance by Bargatze, a Q&A segment with Bargatze, and a program filled with laughter and special moments.

Katrina Pace, chief executive officer of the MC Foundation, said this gala will be one to remember.

“This year's gala is going to be incredibly special. Not only is it the culmination of MC's extraordinary Bicentennial celebration, but it's also the largest fundraising event in MC history. It's going to be an evening full of exciting announcements, celebration and gratitude, but what I'm looking forward to most is seeing the entire MC community come together,” Pace said.

Gala attendees will experience demonstrations from talented MC students and faculty, hear transformative MC stories, and most of all, support a worthy cause. Guests can also look forward to participating in the gala silent auction, which will open the week before the event and conclude during the evening.

Pace underscored that it’s the MC students, employees, volunteers and supporters who make the event a reality.

“With more than 100 students volunteering alongside our alumni, faculty, staff and friends, the gala is a wonderful reflection of what makes MC so unique. I'm deeply grateful to our donors, sponsors and supporters whose generosity makes this celebration possible. There's no better way to honor our past while investing in MC's future.”

The 2025 event, which featured actress, comedian and best-selling author Leanne Morgan, raised more than $1 million for student scholarships and MC Athletics.

This fall, the A.E. Wood Coliseum will once again be transformed into a remarkable dinner and performance venue for the Bicentennial Gala. 2026 table sponsorships start at $2,500, and individual tickets are $150 each. Sponsorships and tickets may be purchased online at mc.edu/gala. Questions about the event may be directed to the MC Foundation at 601-925-7323.