Everything We Know About This Year’s Met Gala

Vogue’s Met Gala is ostensibly a charitable event that raises funds for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, but for the wider world it represents one of the most anticipated celebrity-fashion spectacles of the calendar year. More elite than the Oscars and infinitely more rock ’n’ roll than a royal wedding, it’s where high society mingles with Hollywood A-listers and various pop-culture flavours of the month. It’s also a banner night for the online commentariat, who watch the red carpet livestream and post their own fashion praise or pointed critique from the comforts of home.

Here’s everything we know about this year’s gala, which is set for Monday, May 4.

Beyoncé is involved

Beyoncé is one of the event’s co-chairs, and it’s kind of a big deal. According to the New York Times, it marks the first time the "Lemonade" singer has graced the Met’s red carpet in a decade. And she won’t be alone. Beyoncé is one of three other celeb chairs this year who will share hosting duties with Anna Wintour, Vogue's global editorial director, Condé Nast bigwig and inspiration for the iconic Devil Wears Prada character Miranda Priestly. The other two luminaries sharing co-chair duties are Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams.  

The dress code for this year is “Fashion is Art”

Each year the gala’s dress code acts as a complement to the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. This year, the Institute’s spring exhibition will centre on Costume Art and the gala has taken that note forward with its own ‘Fashion is Art’ call to arms. It’s a broad theme, with little more than the phrase to offer a clue of what we can expect. But Vogue has teased readers with a few runway looks they believe do justice to the theme.

It’s a big night for fashion history

Met Gala 2026 is timed to celebrate the opening of the Costume Institute’s new home at the gallery, which—like Beyoncé's appearance—is kind of a big deal. The new space, the Condé M. Nast Galleries, represents a massive 11,500-square-foot, permanent home for the Institute's vast collection of more than 30,000 objects that span more than 500 years of fashion history.

The guest list is top secret

Who's going to walk past the phalanx of photographers on May 4? Your guess is as good as mine, as the guest list isn't a public affair. But there's speculation that you'll likely see Sabrina Carpenter, Zoe Kravitz (with rumoured fiance Harry Styles?), Teyana Taylor and Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams.

The Gala is not without controversy

Not everyone is thrilled with this year’s funding model. Amazon honcho Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos are the event’s honorary chairs, and they’re also bankrolling much of the exhibition and the celebration. That affiliation hasn’t gone unnoticed by those who oppose the couple's employment practices, politics or their approach to establishing their social standing. There’s a guerrilla campaign to boycott the event with posters appearing in and around NYC proclaiming "Boycott the Bezos Met Gala."

You can see it all unfold in real-time (if you wish!)

Vogue is livestreaming the event on its website and socials, including YouTube and TikTok. The action begins at 6 p.m. EST on Monday, May 4.