The first Monday in May is back again, which means it’s time for the Met Gala 2026.
And thanks to this year’s theme of “Costume Art”, the red carpet is set to focus on fashion with a capital F.
There are big things happening inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as the Costume Institute will unveil its transformation in time for the ball.
The newly named Condé M. Nast Galleries has moved into a larger, approximately 12,000-square-foot space in a prominent display area within the museum’s Great Hall.
The 2025 Met Gala raised a record $31 million — up from last year’s $26 million — all of which went to the Center.
In the past, annual exhibitions lent space to the entire museum, making their display time limited. However, this year, the exhibition will be in its permanent location for nine full months, from May 10 to January 10, 2027. Last year’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” was on display for only five months.
Below, everything you need to know about the 2026 Met Gala, from who to what they’ll be wearing.
What is the theme of Met Gala 2026?
This year’s theme and accompanying exhibition is titled “Costume Art” and will explore different body shapes and parts, as well as clothing that covers or accentuates.
According to the Met, the exhibition “explores paintings of the clothed body from The Met’s vast collection, combining clothing and artwork to reveal the relationship between clothing and the body.”
The exhibit will include clothing and works from the museum’s existing catalog, organized by “a series of thematic body types that demonstrate their proliferation and endurance across time and culture.”
What is the dress code?
The dress code, which gives guests more context on how to best support the theme of the event, is “Fashion Is Art.”
It asks visitors to “reveal their relationship with fashion as an integrated art form and celebrate the myriad images of clothed bodies throughout art history,” according to the Met.
Expect the stars to pull off timeless fashion collections that reference the works of Mondrian, Picasso, Dalí and more.
Who is the host?
Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams have been named co-hosts for the night, along with Anna Wintour.
Jeff Bezos and wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos will serve as honorary chairs, providing the group’s main source of funding and accompanying show.
The host committee is back in 2026, this year with two chairs: Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello and muse Zoë Kravitz. Kering-owned fashion will also underwrite the “Costume Art” exhibition.
Who will be there?
Others on the committee that will host the show are Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and others.
Page Six reported that Met Gala regulars Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber will return to the Met steps along with Julia Garner, Alexa Chung, Gabrielle Union and more.
The New York Times reports that individual tickets cost $25,000 more each this year — up to a whopping $100,000 — and tables start at $350,000.
