Met Gala season is upon us. The annual event takes place on the first Monday in May (May 4, 2026 this year) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, following its traditional calendar. We know the Met Gala is a whirlwind of fashion, beauty, imagination, and creativity so it's fair if you have lots of questions about the iconic event. If you're wondering "What is the Met Gala?" or "What happens at the Met Gala?" don't worry, we have a quick rundown of everything you need to know. Starting with the basics, you may or may not know that Condé Nast's Chief Content Officer Anna Wintour has been cochairing the Met Gala since 1999, and she's the backbone of fashion's biggest night.
Wintour has run the Met Gala since 1995, and continues to make it one of the most noteworthy celebrations of art and fashion. And behind all the glitz and glamour on the red carpet, there's a curated exhibit for attendees (and eventually the public) to enjoy. The Met Gala 2026 theme centers around "Costume Art" and the relationship between fashion and the dressed body. The exhibit, which runs from May 10, 2026 through Jan. 10, 2027, includes pieces from designers like Thom Browne, Robert Wun, Christian Louboutin, and Telfar, and incorporates sections on skin, the disabled body, the plus-size body (referred to as "corpulent" which has sparked some controversy), and more.
The gala's theme is "Fashion Is Art" and encourages wearers to celebrate the connection between the two with designs that reference anything from paintings to sculptures to photographs. And several celebrities took the opportunity to highlight Black art [1], taking representation into their own hands after 2025's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme.
The co-chairs for the 2026 Met Gala included Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman [2], and of course, Anna Wintour. In another bout of controversy, Lauren Sánchez Bezos along with husband Jeff Bezos served as honorary co-chairs and lead sponsors, though Sánchez Bezos walked the red carpet solo. Keep scrolling for everything to know about the 2026 Met Gala.
Who Goes to the Met Gala?
It's up to Anna Wintour. The Condé Nast Chief Content Officer not only approves every single person on the guest list, but she also picks the seating charts and reportedly has input on everyone's outfits. Monday night at the Met is for Hollywood's elite, including iconic singers like Beyoncé, Rihanna [3], and Lady Gaga [4], as well as many of the same actors who show up to the Oscars (think Nicole Kidman [5] Zendaya [6]). Of course, supermodels, designers, photographers, and even royals and politicians attend, too. Wintour, usually accompanied by her daughter Bee Shaffer, as well as the gala co-chairs are always first to arrive, in order to oversee every detail.
Who Hosts the Met Gala?
Wintour chooses a new set of co-chairs every year. In doing so, it's likely Wintour keeps the gala's theme in mind along with the current pop culture climate. For 2026, Wintour chose an illustrious group including Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman [7]. As mentioned, in a controversial move, she selected lead sponsors Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos to serve as honorary co-chairs.
Tom Brady [8] and Gisele Bündchen [9] took on the cochair duties for 2017 [10], alongside Katy Perry [11] and Pharrell Williams, and for 2018, Amal Clooney [12], Rihanna [13], and Donatella Versace lead the pack. In 2019, Wintour named Serena Williams, Lady Gaga [14], Harry Styles, and Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele. The 2021 Met Gala was hosted by cochairs [15] Timothée Chalamet [16], Billie Eilish [17], Amanda Gorman [18], and Naomi Osaka. In 2022, Wintour tapped Regina King, Blake Lively [19], Ryan Reynolds [20], and Lin-Manuel Miranda [21]. 2023's Met Gala saw Dua Lipa, Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, and Roger Federer co-chair. For 2024, Zendaya [22], Jennifer Lopez [23], Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth were selected to host the event. And in 2025, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and honorary co-chair Lebron James made up the host committee.
How Do You Get Invited to the Met Gala?
While anyone can check out the Met exhibit after opening night, the red carpet event is reserved for those who received Wintour's exclusive invitation. Often, celebrities get invited by a fashion designer who then dresses them for the event and usually poses with them on the red carpet. Hailey Bieber, a Met Gala veteran, was dressed by Saint Laurent for the 2026 ball.
What is the Met Gala 2026 Theme?
The Met Gala 2026 theme centers around "Costume Art" and the relationship between fashion and the dressed body. The theme of the gala informs how people should dress. The dress code this year is "Fashion Is Art" and encourages wearers to celebrate the connection between the two with designs that reference anything from paintings to sculptures to photographs.
Celebrities worked with designers to capture the theme through their red-carpet looks: some standouts [24] included Emma Chamberlain [25]'s Mugler surrealist dress, Beyoncé's custom Olivier Rousteing skeleton gown and elaborate headpiece [26], Kendall Jenner's GapStudio look [27] inspired by a white T-shirt and Janelle Monae's Christian Siriano gown [28] which featured 230 electrical wires, six real succulents, four moving butterflies, one dragonfly, and 5,000 black crystals.
Stars also embodied the theme with their beauty looks, like Tyla who sported peacock-inspired nails [29] and Bad Bunny who used prosthetics [30] to look decades older. Interestingly, some celebrities created these beauty looks with affordable, drugstore products [31] like Kendall Jenner's $12 highlighter and Zoë Kravitz's $8 lipstick.
Other celebs took the opportunity to highlight Black art [32], taking representation into their own hands after 2025's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme.
What is the Met Gala 2026 Exhibit?
The Met Gala 2026 theme centers around "Costume Art" and the relationship between fashion and the dressed body. The exhibit, which runs from May 10, 2026 through Jan. 10, 2027, includes pieces from designers like Thom Browne, Robert Wun, Christian Louboutin, and Telfar, and incorporates sections on skin, the disabled body, the plus-size body (referred to as "corpulent" which has sparked some controversy), and more.
What Happens on the Met Gala Red Carpet?
Wintour coordinates arrival times with the celebrities who go, allowing cameras and press to operate on schedule. Stars will pose, wave, and show off every angle of their fabulous look, then climb the many stairs to make their way into the exhibit. When someone's dress is particularly voluminous, they are likely accompanied by a wrangler [33], who helps them navigate to the top of the stairs in an efficient yet elegant manner. Oh, and major stars like Rihanna [34] and Beyonce are always the last to arrive.
What Happens Inside the Met Gala?
Stars roam from room to room, enjoying the curated exhibit, before finding their way to the dining room where they're served cocktails and a lavish meal prepared by celebrity chefs. They are always treated to a special performance (Sabrina Carpenter, Stevie Wonder, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Lady Gaga [35], Rihanna [36], and Blondie have entertained) and everyone poses together for pictures, most of which you won't see due to Wintour's strict "no social media" policy.
Why Are No Pictures Allowed at the Met Gala?
In 2015, Wintour enforced a "no social media" rule, which Kendall Jenner famously violated with a bathroom selfie in 2017. But she's not the only one. Plenty of stars have posted snaps of the elusive night. The idea is to make the evening seem impossibly exclusive, and a treat for only those who are invited to the party. Plus, once the exhibit is open to the public, anyone can check out the gorgeous displays in person, which is highly encouraged.
Can You Watch the Met Gala Live?
Vogue will be live streaming this year's Met Gala on their website and social media platforms. The livestream will start at 6 p.m. E.T. Additionally, media outlets are invited for red carpet interviews, and there are plenty to enjoy on YouTube from previous years. Popsugar has joined outlets like Vogue on the red carpet to talk to a handful of stars prior to the event.
— Additional reporting by Jessica C. Andrews [37], Allison Ingrum [38] and Charlotte Kho [39]
Sarah Wasilak [40] (she/her) is the PS Shopping Director. With plenty of experience in the fashion industry and over 11 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing and creating social videos across the lifestyle, health, and fitness categories. She is the host of the "Dinner for Shoes" podcast and has bylines at InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit.
Jessica C. Andrews [41] (she/her) is an award-winning editor and writer who currently works as the senior style director of PS, overseeing beauty, fashion, shopping, and identity content. With more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include fashion, shopping, and travel. Prior to joining PS, Jessica held senior roles at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and Bustle and contributed to The New York Times, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Essence. She's appeared on "Good Morning America," NBC, and Fox 5 New York and spoken on various panels about fashion, hair, and Black culture.
Allison Ingrum [42] is the former editorial operations manager at PS, where she supported and shaped editorial processes, helped manage editorial tools, and oversaw operations for PS Voices. With more than four years of experience in the industry, her writing has been featured in PS, Today, American Spa, NYMetro Parents, and more.
Charlotte Kho [43] is a writer originally from Washington D.C. who spends her time watching classic Rom-Com movies, exploring art museums, and hunting for the best pizza in New York City.