Prom is one of the most anticipated traditions of the school year, and for seniors at Neuqua Valley High School, preparations for the 2026 event are already underway. However, this year’s prom required an unexpected change of plans after the closure of the original venue. Neuqua Valley’s 2026 prom will now take place at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago, Naperville.

The theme for this year’s prom is “A Night of Floating Lights,” inspired by the lantern scene from the Disney movie “Tangled.” According to Senior Class Officer Zamirah Brandon, the theme was chosen because it resonated with many members of the senior class.

“We wanted to do a theme that was popular among the senior class,” Brandon expressed. “When planning, our initial ideas circulated around the movie ‘Tangled,’ and we wanted to create a title that incorporated a scene from the movie, hence ‘A Night of Floating Lights.’”

The lantern imagery also holds symbolic meaning for students approaching graduation. The floating lanterns in the film represent hope and new beginnings, a connection that student council members felt reflected the experience of finishing senior year.

Brandon explained that the decorations will help bring the theme to life throughout the venue. Purple and gold accents, lantern centerpieces, and greenery are planned for the ballroom to create a warm atmosphere inspired by the glowing lights from the film.

Originally, prom had been scheduled to take place at The Matrix Club, a large entertainment and banquet venue that has hosted concerts, weddings, and school events in the Naperville area. However, the venue abruptly shut down earlier this year after financial disputes between the business and its landlord.

According to local reports, the landlord filed an eviction complaint claiming the venue owed more than $1 million in unpaid rent and construction costs, which ultimately forced the venue to close and cancel upcoming events. As a result, several organizations and schools that had planned events there had to find new locations on short notice.

The closure affected multiple schools in the area, including Metea Valley High School and Waubonsie Valley High School, which had also scheduled proms at the venue.

For Neuqua Valley’s Student Council, the venue change meant adjusting the timeline for planning. Senior Class Officer Dia Bhatnagar explained that organizers had to move quickly to keep preparations on track.

“The venue change was definitely something we had to act on immediately,” Bhatnagar stated. “We had to meet for prom planning and finalize the theme much earlier than expected.”

Despite the sudden change, student council members say the planning process is moving forward smoothly and that they are focused on making the event memorable for students.

Prom tickets will cost $100 per person for dinner and the dance, and are available through Pushcoin.

Prom has long been an important milestone for upperclassmen at Neuqua Valley. In the weeks leading up to the event, students often coordinate outfits with friends, plan group photos, and arrange dinners before heading to the venue. Formal dresses, suits, and tuxedos are common, and many groups gather beforehand at parks or scenic locations around Naperville for photos.

Inside the venue, the ballroom is traditionally transformed with themed decorations, lighting, and photo areas. With lantern-inspired décor and glowing lights planned for this year’s theme, the student council hopes to recreate the magical atmosphere that inspired the concept.

Although the closure of the Matrix Club created unexpected challenges, organizers say the goal remains the same: giving students a memorable night to celebrate the end of the school year.