Sam Smith was dressed to impress at this year's star-studded Met Gala in New York City on Monday. The British singer, 33, turned heads in a dramatic black bejewelled coat gown boasting intricate beading and faux fur trim. Sam, who uses they/them pronouns, completed the look with a feathered headpiece and sheer gloves, adding extra drama. The musician also wore a sparkling diamond neckpiece and chandelier earrings, while their beard and moustache were perfectly styled.
Met Gala 2026: Theme and Dress Code
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, falls on the first Monday in May every year. The theme of this year's event, widely considered the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets, is 'Costume Art', while the dress code is 'Fashion Is Art.' The dress code calls on A-list attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas.
Co-Chairs and Host Committee
Leading the charge is a powerhouse trio of co-chairs: Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, joining forces with Vogue's global editorial director Anna Wintour to oversee fashion's biggest night. It is the first time tennis superstar Williams has co-chaired the gala. Kidman previously co-chaired in 2003 and 2005, and Beyonce was an honorary chair in 2013. The host committee includes co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz, along with members Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Angela Bassett, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, and more.
Exhibition and Sponsors
The New York City museum will pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for the exhibition, which will be loosely divided into three categories: the classical and the nude body, aging and pregnant bodies, and the anatomical body. The exhibit, set to unveil the Met's sprawling new Conde Nast Galleries, has been made possible by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez, who are the lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs. French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is also sponsoring the exhibit.
Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute's curator, said at a press conference: 'The title "Costume Art" refers to the history of the costume institute.' Bolton, who selects the theme, noted that fashion has 'the status of art because of, and not in spite of, its relation to the body.'
Dates and Significance
Costume Art will run from May 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027, following the Met Gala on May 4. The Met Gala is a huge money-maker for the museum and provides the Costume Institute with its main source of funding. The 2026 Met Gala marks a major moment as it is the first since Wintour technically stepped back from one of her famed roles at Vogue. In June 2025, Wintour announced she was stepping down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years. The global director for Vogue and global chief content officer at Conde Nast hired Chloe Malle as the new head of editorial content at Vogue. Wintour has been incredibly hands-on with the Met Gala over the years and is credited with making it the splashy A-list affair it has become, beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Zendaya, and more. Last year, many stars did not attend the Met Gala, with some believing it was to avoid a faux pas due to the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which centered around the political and aesthetic constructs of Black dandyism.
