NEED TO KNOW
- The Met Gala 2026 exhibition theme is “Costume Art”.
- Traditionally held on the first Monday in May, it will take place on May 4 and May 5 in Australia.
- Former American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, tennis great Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé
are this year’s co-chairs.
The sartorial magic of the 2026 Met Gala is less than a week away, and there’s already a great deal of anticipation thanks to this year’s theme.
Traditionally held on the first Monday of the month, we can expect a feast for the eyes on this year’s carpet.
Find out more about the theme, who’s attending and who will be co-chairing below.
What is the purpose of the Met Gala?
Originally, the event was started by the late fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert in 1948, as a dinner to support the newly established Costume Institute.
It got a major makeover when late Vogue editor Dianna Vreeland joined it as a consultant in 1972 to elevate its status.
The first theme was then established in 1974 and set a precedent for decades to come.
Since then, it has transformed into an extravagant fundraiser for the museum’s exhibitions, acquisitions, and capital improvements.
In 2025, the event set a $31 million fundraising record, which doesn’t reflect the cost of staging the event on the day. In 2023, almost $22 million was raised.
Where is the Met Gala in 2026?
Once again, it will be held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
What is the Met Gala theme in 2026?
In September, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced “Costume Art” as its 2026 spring exhibition.
It will explore the “depictions of the dressed body across The Met’s vast collection, pairing garments with artworks to reveal the inherent relationship between clothing and the body”.
“Costume Art will present a dynamic and scholarly conversation between garments from The Costume Institute and an array of artworks from across The Met’s vast collection, elevating universal and timeless themes while bringing forward new ideas and ways of seeing,” the museum’s French Director and CEO said.
It’s going to be the museum’s first exhibition in its new Galleries, which are adjacent to the Great Hall, and measure almost 12,000 square feet.
As for the dress code? It’s “fashion is art”, which means the sartorial possibilities are endless.
“What connects every curatorial department and what connects every single gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body,” Andrew Bolton told Vogue when it was announced.
“It’s the common thread throughout the whole museum, which is really what the initial idea for the exhibition was.”
Who is hosting the Met Gala in 2026?
For this year’s spectacle, Nicole Kidman, Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour will be co-chairing the event.
This Met Gala will be Anna’s first since she stepped away as the editor of American Vogue in June 2025.
It will also mark Beyoncé’s first appearance at the annual fundraiser in 10 years.
Not only that, but it will be the third time Nicole has co-chaired, but her first, bringing one of her daughters.
Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz have also been confirmed as the co-chairs of this year’s Met Gala Host Committee.
Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Consani, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, LISA, Chloe Malle, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Lauren Wasser, Anna Weyant, A’ja Wilson, and Yseult have also been announced as additional members.
In December 2025, the event faced backlash when billionaire Jezz Bezos and his wife, former journalist Lauren Sánchez Bezos, were announced as the lead sponsors.
However, Anna Wintour shut it down that same month, saying Lauren would be a “wonderful asset” to the event and museum.
“We’re very grateful for her incredible generosity,” she told CNN, “so we’re thrilled she’s part of the night,” she said.
Who will be attending the Met Gala in 2026?
According to Vogue, around 450 guests usually attend the event each year, which includes celebrities and figures from music, sports, art, fashion, and politics.
Along with the co-chairs and committee, other confirmed guests include Rebecca Hall, Australian model Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinéad Burke, Chase Sui Wonders, Amy Sherald, Aimee Mullins, Tschabalala Self, Emma Chamberlain, and Cara Delevingne.
We will have to keep our eyes on the carpet to see who else attends!
Can anyone go to the Met Gala?
If you’re a fashion aficionado, sadly, you can’t just reserve a ticket; it’s invite-only.
If you are invited, however, you’d need more than loose change to cover a ticket!
According to CBS Moneywatch, it cost $75,000 USD per person in 2025, with tables starting at $350,000 USD. However, some celebrities are invited by high-end brands and don’t have to pay for their attendance.
Tickets also cost the same in 2024, which was $25,000 USD jump from 2023.
