Met Gala 2026 Theme Announced: 'Costume Art'

Sam Smith, described as a "non-binary" singer in a Daily Caller post, wore an outfit for the event. Doja Cat and Charli XCX were photographed on the red carpet, according to NPR and Forbes. Connor Storrie, star of "Heated Rivalry," debuted in a black suit with a polka-dot blouse and long neck scarf, as reported by Forbes.

Emma Chamberlain wore a colorful dress. AFP and NPR provided live updates and images of celebrities ascending the steps in extravagant attire.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos served as honorary chairs. Sánchez Bezos wore an off-the-shoulder navy gown by Schiaparelli, inspired by John Singer Sargent's 1884 portrait of Madame X. A campaign reported by France 24 urged a boycott of the event due to Bezos's involvement.

The Guardian article titled "Fashion’s Faustian pact: the high cost of Jeff Bezos’s Met Gala patronage" described Bezos's role as indicating growing ties between designers, celebrities, and power, and framed the event as the most controversial Met Gala yet.

No direct statements from Bezos or the Metropolitan Museum of Art addressing the campaign appear in the available sources.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani chose not to attend the Met Gala, stating in a New York Times report that he wanted to highlight fashion industry workers such as seamstresses and tailors. Separately, Mamdani commented on antisemitic vandalism at multiple synagogues and private homes over the weekend, saying there was "no place" for such attacks, according to the Washington Examiner.

The incidents involved swastikas and graffiti, occurring Sunday night into Monday morning, and prompted an investigation by city authorities. In unrelated developments, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized in critical but stable condition, as stated by his spokesman in reports from ABC News and Le Monde.

The gala tied into the Metropolitan Museum's recent efforts, including the introduction of nine new mannequin bodies in 2025 for a show on Black dandy style, addressing diversity in fashion. Media coverage included live updates from outlets like The Hollywood Reporter, which detailed Perry's look and past gala stories.