Met Gala 2026 Features 'Fashion is Art' Theme with Beyoncé as Co-Chair

The 2026 Met Gala takes place today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, drawing around 450 A-list guests for fashion's annual fundraiser. ' Beyoncé returns as a co-chair after a decade, joined by Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. This year's theme ties to the 'Costume Art' exhibition, which displays 400 outfits and objects spanning 5,000 years.

The exhibition opens to gala attendees tonight and to the public on May 10, 2026. It is the first show in the museum's new galleries.

Anna Wintour, who has chaired the Met Gala since 1995, enlisted Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams as co-chairs. The host committee includes Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Teyana Taylor, Lisa from Blackpink, Elizabeth Debicki and Lena Dunham, headed by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez serve as honorary chairs and lead sponsors. Their involvement has prompted boycott calls, with posters appearing near the museum referencing workers' rights issues. Bezos stepped down as Amazon's chief executive four years ago.

Vogue hosts the official livestream on its digital platforms, YouTube and TikTok, with hosts Ashley Graham, Cara Delevingne and La La Anthony, and Emma Chamberlain as red carpet correspondent. Multiple news outlets, including the BBC, will provide live coverage on social media.

The event itself remains private, with a no-selfie rule inside, but the red carpet generates extensive media attention. Tables at the gala cost around $350,000, while individual tickets are about $75,000. Most celebrities attend as guests of fashion brands, which cover costs to gain publicity.

Every invitation requires personal approval from Anna Wintour.

The gala formally opens the Costume Institute's spring exhibition, which runs until January 2027 and serves as its primary funding source. Last year's event raised a record $31 million. The 'Fashion is Art' dress code invites guests to explore fashion as an embodied art form, potentially referencing artistic movements like Baroque, Impressionist or Renaissance.

Interpretations vary widely, leading to diverse red carpet looks. The exhibition organizes items by body type categories, such as 'the pregnant body,' pairing garments with art objects. It marks the debut of the new Condé Nast Galleries at the museum.

The Met Gala traditionally occurs on the first Monday in May, with no event in 2020 due to Covid. Recent themes include 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' in 2025 and 'Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking' in 2024. Publicity for related events often aligns with the gala, such as the recent release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, timed to coincide with this year's event.

The original film parodied the fashion industry and was loosely based on Anna Wintour's role at Vogue.