Everything to know about the Met Gala 2026: Theme, hosts and what to expect

The first Monday in May is back again, which means it’s time for the Met Gala 2026.

And thanks to this year’s “Costume Art” theme, the red carpet is destined to center on fashion with a capital F.

There are big things happening within the confines of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as the Costume Institute is set to unveil its makeover in time for the ball.

The newly named Condé M. Nast Galleries have relocated to a vast, nearly 12,000-square-foot space in a prominent position of visibility within the museum’s Great Hall.

The 2025 Met Gala raised a record $31 million — up from the previous year’s $26 million — which all funds the Institute.

In the past, annual exhibitions borrowed space throughout the museum, making its time in the spotlight limited. This year, however, the show will be available in its permanent space for a full nine months, from May 10 to January 10, 2027. Last year’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” was on exhibit for just five months.

Below, everything you need to know about the 2026 Met Gala, from who’s going to what they’ll be wearing.

What is the Met Gala 2026 theme?

This year’s theme and accompanying exhibition are titled “Costume Art” and will explore different body shapes and parts, as well as the clothes that cover or highlight them.

According to the Met, the exhibit “explores depictions of the dressed body across The Met’s vast collection, pairing garments with artworks to reveal the inherent relationship between clothing and the body.”

The exhibition will pair clothing with works from the museum’s existing catalogue, organized in “a series of thematic body types that reflect their pervasiveness and endurance through time and cultures.”

What is the dress code?

The dress code, which gives guests a bit more context on how to best support the theme of the event, is “Fashion Is Art.”

It asks guests to “express their own relationship to fashion as an embodied art form and celebrate the countless depictions of the dressed body throughout art history,” per the Met.

Expect stars to pull from fashion collections across time that reference the works of Mondrian, Picasso, Dalí and more.

Who’s hosting?

Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams have been named co-hosts of the night, alongside Anna Wintour.

Jeff Bezos and wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos will serve as honorary chairs, providing the main source of funding for both the party and the accompanying exhibition.

The host committee has returned for 2026, this year with two co-chairs: Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello and muse Zoë Kravitz. The Kering-owned fashion brand will also underwrite the “Costume Art” exhibition.

Who will be attending?

Also on the host committee are Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and more.

Page Six reported that Met Gala regulars Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber will return to the Met steps along with Julia Garner, Alexa Chung, Gabrielle Union and more.

The New York Times reports that individual tickets cost $25,000 more apiece this year — up to a whopping $100,000 — with tables starting at $350,000.