Zendaya attends the 2024 Met Gala in New York.Evan Agostini/The Canadian Press
Fashionistas knew this already: “Fashion is Art.” But how will Met Gala guests interpret that dress code at the 2026 extravaganza?
Last year’s theme, “Tailored For You,” led to a lot of great suits; this year’s promises to produce some truly flamboyant attire as guests mount the famous carpeted steps. Here are some key things to know as fashion’s biggest night approaches.
When is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala will take place on May 4 – as the documentary on the event titled it, the first Monday in May.
What’s the theme of the Met Gala in 2026?
As always, the dress code is inspired by the spring exhibit at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Costume Art” will pair some 200 art objects with 200 garments to highlight the connection between fashion and art through the centuries.
Who’s hosting?
None other than Beyoncé, a familiar gala guest, is a co-chair, joined by actress Nicole Kidman, tennis champ Venus Williams and the woman who runs it all, Vogue’s Anna Wintour. There’s also a “host committee” chaired by designer Anthony Vaccarello and filmmaker Zoë Kravitz. Additional committee members include Sabrina Carpenter, Teyana Taylor, Lena Dunham and Misty Copeland.
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Who’s on the Met Gala guest list?
Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren, are expected to be in attendance given their sponsorship of the event. “The exhibition and benefit are made possible by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos,” read a Met press release in February. The museum has not revealed how much the Amazon founder and his wife, as lead sponsors and honorary chairs, are contributing. Protest against their participation has come from an activist group called Everyone Hates Elon, known for displaying anti-billionaire messaging on public billboards, bus shelters and more.
Of course, the co-chairs and host committee are expected to attend. Stars including Anne Hathaway, Billie Eilish, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Harry Styles, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Lewis Hamilton, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are also rumoured to be attending.
Who won’t be there?
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office on an affordability platform, told the local news outlet Hell Gate he will not attend. Past New York mayors who have been in attendance are Eric Adams (who wore a tuxedo with the words “End Gun Violence” on the back in 2022), Bill de Blasio in 2021, and Mike Bloomberg, who has attended for many years.
What happens at the Met Gala?
After the red carpet, guests enter the museum, check in (and get stickers placed over their phone cameras!) and walk past an enormous flower arrangement in the museum’s lobby. Often there is an orchestra playing.
After hitting the receiving line, everyone heads either to cocktails, or to the exhibit. Then to dinner. By the main course, most tardy guests have managed to arrive, but not all. Some even wait until dessert to make their entrance.
Usually, there is a celebrity musical performance. Last year, both Usher and Stevie Wonder performed. In 2015, global superstar Rihanna was the main performer.
What exactly is the Met Gala?
It’s a fundraiser for the Costume Institute, the only self-funding department at the Met — and it’s a huge one. Last year the evening brought in a record sum of more than $31-million.
What’s new at the Met Gala this year?
New digs. “Costume Art” will inaugurate the Conde M. Nast Galleries, created from what was formerly the museum’s retail store and occupying nearly 12,000 square feet (1,115 square meters) off the museum’s Great Hall.
Aside from giving fashion a grander display space, this means gala guests now can stroll easily between the show and the dinner that takes place in the Temple of Dendur. In a more lasting way, it will prevent snaking lines elsewhere in the museum once the show opens to the public May 10.
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Despite the prominence of classic body shapes through art history, curator Andrew Bolton has made sure there’s an element of body positivity in his exhibit, with sections on body types long ignored in art: the corpulent body, for example, and the disabled body. And he’s added 25 new mannequins that reflect these body types. Nine real-life people — including disability activist Sinéad Burke and musician Yseult — allowed their bodies to be digitally scanned for the mannequins, which will also bear mirror-like polished steel surfaces so viewers can see themselves.
How long has the Met Gala been going on?
The Met Gala started in 1948 as a Manhattan society midnight supper — held at various places like the Waldorf Astoria and the Rainbow Room. It took many years before it turned into a global event and one of the starriest nights of the year.
Can anyone buy a ticket to the Met Gala?
No. The Met Gala is an invite-only event. Individual tickets are $100,000, and a table of 10 starts at $350,000. There will be approximately 400 guests in all.
