What is the Met Gala? An explainer on the 2026 theme, where to watch it, the guest list and more

The Met Gala is fashion’s biggest night of the year, with celebrities partnering with famous designers to create some unforgettable looks.

This year’s theme, “Costume Art”, will be sure to reveal some impressive designs, with resident style icons set to hit the glamorous red carpet.

With the 2026 Met Gala just days away, we have put together everything you need to know!

WHAT IS THE MET GALA?

Held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Met Gala is a charity event and fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute.

It also serves as an opening for the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition.

The event brings together celebrities, designers, fashion icons and personalities to celebrate the art of fashion, with a fabulous excuse to dress up.

WHEN IS THE 2026 MET GALA?

The 2026 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 4, in New York.

It will be live on Tuesday, May 5, at 8.00am Australian time.

WHO IS INVITED TO THE MET GALA?

The event hosts around 450 stars, creatives, designers and individuals from sport, arts and politics.

Long-time attendees like Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman are rumoured to make an appearance, but names are never confirmed ahead of time.

The main way to secure a ticket to the Met is by being invited by a fashion house or an organisation, in which case the celebrity will be dressed by the designer.

Major fashion houses like Prada, Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga will buy tables at the event and fill them with celebrities who are dressed in their designs.

HOW MUCH IS A MET GALA TICKET?

For a singular ticket, you can see yourself set back a whopping $113,000 (USD 75,000).

A table is around $550,000 (USD 350,000), which is usually purchased by fashion houses and organisations. To purchase a table, it must be approved by former Vogue editor-in-chief and Met Gala co-chair Anna Wintour, who approves seating arrangements.

WHAT IS THE THEME OF THE 2026 MET GALA?

This year’s Met Gala theme is “Costume Art”, which, according to Vogue, will explore the relationship between fashion and the human body from prehistory to now.

Drawing inspiration from the Met’s own vast collection, the accompanying exhibition “Costume Art” will inaugurate the museum’s new Condé M. Nast Galleries, pairing clothing with works of art organised around a series of thematic body types – from the “Classical Body” to the often-overlooked “Pregnant Body” and “Ageing Body.”

The dress code invites attendees to interpret the intersection of fashion and fine art, so expect looks that blur the line between clothing and artistic expression, from sculptural silhouettes to wearable masterpieces.

WHO ARE THE HOSTS OF THE 2026 MET GALA?

Co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, the 2026 Met Gala promises to be a landmark celebration of costume, art, and the many forms the human body takes across cultures and centuries.

The event will also feature a host committee co-chaired by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz, with members including Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinéad Burke, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Alex Consani, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Rebecca Hall, LISA, Chloe Malle, Aimee Mullins, Amy Sherald, Tschabalala Self, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Anna Weyant, Lauren Wasser, A’ja Wilson, Chase Sui Wonders, and Yseult.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos will also serve as honorary chairs as lead sponsors of the gala and exhibition.

WHERE CAN I WATCH THE MET GALA IN AUSTRALIA?

The 2026 Met Gala red carpet live stream will be hosted exclusively by Vogue at roughly 8.00am and will broadcast live across its digital platforms, as well as on YouTube – you may need to watch this on an incognito tab.