Met Gala 2026 Opens with Jeff Bezos Sponsorship, Anna Wintour Co-Chair

Other co-chairs included Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams. The gala marked the opening of the Costume Institute's exhibition titled "Costume Art," curated by Andrew Bolton. " The dress code for the event was "Fashion is Art," which encouraged attendees to interpret how designers use the body as a canvas.

Approximately 450 guests attended the invite-only event, with ticket prices set at about $100,000, as reported by CBS News and BBC News.

m. ET on Vogue's digital platforms, including YouTube and TikTok, hosted by Ashley Graham, La La Anthony, and Cara Delevingne, with Emma Chamberlain serving as the red-carpet correspondent. E! also broadcast the red carpet starting at the same time.

The Associated Press provided live footage of celebrities departing from hotels such as the Mark Hotel and the Carlyle Hotel en route to the event. Confirmed attendees included host committee members like Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello, Zoë Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter, Teyana Taylor, and Lisa.

Other stars spotted at pre-gala events included Colman Domingo, Kris Jenner, and Kendall Jenner, who attended an event hosted by Bezos and Sánchez Bezos.

According to an NPR preview, the exhibition and gala theme emphasized expectations for creative interpretations of fashion as art. The event's funding sources included Bezos, Sánchez Bezos, Saint Laurent, and Condé Nast, as noted in reports from Business Insider and BBC News.

Bezos has been photographed inside past galas but has not walked the red carpet, while Sánchez Bezos attended in 2024 wearing an Oscar de la Renta gown. The guest list was not fully disclosed until arrivals, but it typically includes high-profile figures, with potential for surprise appearances, such as from Rihanna, or notable outfits from first-timers, similar to Tyla's sand gown in 2024, as mentioned by the Associated Press.

Bezos' involvement as sponsor and honorary co-chair prompted protests and boycott calls in New York, as covered by France 24, which reported on an anti-Bezos campaign urging a boycott of the Met Gala. The New York Times reported that protesters displayed signs and installations across the city, viewing Bezos as a target due to his role as Amazon's founder and the event's lead sponsor.

" Forbes reported that model Bella Hadid liked an Instagram video calling out celebrities for attending and wearing protest pins, and noted Bezos' past ties to the Trump administration. Le Monde reported that stars attended the event despite the controversy surrounding Bezos' co-chair role.

No direct statements from Bezos or Sánchez Bezos regarding the protests were included in the available reports, though Business Insider noted their expressed excitement for the gala.

The U.S. government has not publicly commented on the protests as of the event date, and no publicly released evidence has documented specific impacts on attendance from the boycott calls, based on the reports reviewed.