The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, popularly known as the Met Gala, takes place on the first Monday of May each year. This year's event is no exception, with stars already beginning their preparations early in the morning.
Pre-Gala Rituals Unveiled
Irina Shayk was spotted wearing a facemask as she readied herself for the fashion extravaganza, sharing a glimpse on Instagram. Heidi Klum took her dog for a walk in New York City before having her nails painted white and then sealing herself in an oxygen chamber. Olivia Wilde posted a selfie, explaining to her followers that she needed time to 'mentally prepare' for the gala, while also showing off her pink manicure.
Theme and Dress Code
The theme for this year's event, often referred to as the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets, is 'Costume Art,' with a dress code of 'Fashion Is Art.' The theme encourages attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas.
Powerhouse Co-Chairs
Leading the charge is a trio of co-chairs: Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, alongside Vogue's global editorial director Anna Wintour. This marks tennis superstar Venus Williams' first time co-chairing the gala. Kidman previously co-chaired in 2003 and 2005, while Beyonce served as an honorary chair in 2013.
Exhibition Details
The New York City museum will pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute in an exhibition loosely divided into three categories: classical and nude body, aging and pregnant bodies, and the anatomical body. The exhibit, set to unveil the Met's new Conde M. Nast Galleries, is sponsored by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez, who are lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs.
Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute's curator, explained at a press conference that the title 'Costume Art' refers to the history of the institute. He noted that fashion has 'the status of art because of, and not in spite of, its relation to the body.' French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is also sponsoring the exhibit.
Host Committee and Timeline
The 2026 Met Gala features a host committee with co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz, along with members including Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Angela Bassett, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, and Teyana Taylor. The exhibition 'Costume Art' will run from May 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027, following the gala on May 4.
Financial and Cultural Impact
The Met Gala is a significant revenue generator for the museum, providing the Costume Institute with its primary source of funding. This year's event is particularly notable as it is the first since Anna Wintour stepped back from her role as editor-in-chief of American Vogue in June 2025 after 37 years. Wintour remains global director for Vogue and global chief content officer at Conde Nast, and she hired Chloe Malle as the new head of editorial content at Vogue.
Wintour has been instrumental in shaping the Met Gala into the high-profile celebrity affair it is today, attracting stars like Rihanna, the Kardashians, Blake Lively, and Zendaya. Last year, some stars skipped the event, possibly to avoid missteps related to the theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' which focused on Black dandyism.
