The Met Gala is often called fashion's biggest night. It takes place every year on the first Monday of May. The event is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This year's gala falls on May 4, 2026, and excitement is already building. Celebrities, designers, and cultural icons walk the famous red carpet together.
The 2026 theme is "Costume Art," and the dress code is "Fashion Is Art." The exhibition explores the relationship between fashion and the human body. It will feature roughly 400 objects, including garments and artworks displayed in pairs. Guests are expected to interpret the theme with bold and creative outfits. The exhibition opens to the public on May 10.
The biggest headline this year is Beyoncé's return as a co-chair. She has not attended the Met Gala since 2016, which was a decade ago. She is joined by co-chairs Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. Wintour has organized the gala every year since 1995. Only about 450 people receive the exclusive invitation to attend.
Attending the Met Gala is extremely expensive. Individual tickets reportedly cost up to $100,000 each. A table for ten people starts at $350,000. The event also serves as a major fundraiser for the museum. In 2025, the gala raised more than $31 million in a single evening.