Once again, fashion lovers, glamour enthusiasts, and celebrities have an unmissable date with the Met Gala, the event held this Monday, May 4, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This 2026, the grand fashion party celebrates both the upcoming exhibition by the Costume Institute and this institution’s new headquarters in the Big Apple: the Condé Nast Galleries. Located in a space that previously housed the museum’s gift shop, the galleries will now be the first thing visitors see when entering the Grand Hall.
Since the Costume Institute merged with the Met in 1946 and became the Costume Institute, it had been relegated to the Met’s basement. It now has a large permanent space of its own, and the exhibition debuting under the title Costume Art will be open for nine full months, a development that undoubtedly deserves to be celebrated by all who appreciate the universe of fashion. Perhaps that is why Beyoncé agreed to be one of the hosts?
A Controversial Source of Funding
Indeed. After a long decade of absence from the glamorous event, the music superstar will be the official co-chair of the Met Gala 2026, alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and the formidable Anna Wintour. Billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, are the honorary chairs and constitute the main funding source for the exhibition and the party itself. A decision that has sparked controversy, with the proliferation of posters in New York urging to “boycott the Bezos gala.”
«Bezos’ Met Gala: sponsored by labor exploitation,» read a poster pasted on a wall a few blocks from the museum. The Bezos sponsorship, which has aligned itself with the Trump White House, is especially offensive to some activists, especially at a time when the United States faces economic uncertainty and is involved in an overseas war. Behind the campaign is the British group Everyone Hates Elon, which claims that its goal is to «unmask and shame Jeff Bezos» before the gala.
Wintour, openly anti-Trump —she said the president is the only person she would never invite to the Met—, is at odds with the decision that the Bezos be the main funding source for the event. The relationship between the couple and Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director, Condé Nast’s global content director, and mastermind of the Met Gala, is increasingly seen as a reflection of the moment the publication is going through.
Wintour put Sánchez Bezos, at their wedding, on Vogue’s digital cover in June 2025. She is one of the few brides to appear on the Vogue cover (others include Melania Trump in 2005 and Kim Kardashian in 2014). This kind of movement, her recurring appearances on the front row of the world’s most important Paris runways, and her recent appointment as honorary chairs of the Met Gala 2026, fuel rumors that the Bezos might be buyers of Vogue’s parent company.
How Much It Costs to Attend the Met Gala 2026
Individual tickets cost a whopping $100,000 (€85,524), a full €25,000 (€21,381) more than last year, and tables for groups start at $350,000 (€299,232). A sum that helped the Met Gala 2025 raise a record total of €26.5 million. All ticket sales proceeds go directly to funding the Costume Institute’s annual budget, since when the Costume Institute merged with the Met, it did so with the condition that the institute would be self-financing.
And what do guests get in exchange for their money? Besides rubbing elbows with Beyoncé and other stars, they can enjoy a cocktail in the Grand Hall, a dinner prepared by Olivier Cheng Catering, and luxurious floral arrangements by Raúl Àvila. And there’s always a surprise performance. Last year the performances were Usher and Stevie Wonder.
That said, no matter how much money you have, attendance at the Met Gala is by strict invitation only. The requirements for attending have more to do with media reach, achievements, and beauty (the Holy Trinity of Anna Wintour) than with money. Vogue’s global editorial director has the final say on every invitation and attendee. Even if a company buys a full table, it cannot choose all the people who will sit at it. This year, just like 2025, there will be around 400 chosen guests.
When Is the Met Gala 2026 Held
The Met Gala 2026, which traditionally takes place on the first Monday of May, will be held on May 4. In theory, celebrities’ scheduled arrivals —with a time assigned to each guest— begin at five in the afternoon (11 p.m. in Spain), usually starting with the co-chairs of the evening, and end around two in the morning, Spanish time. Unless, of course, you are Rihanna, in which case the rules do not apply. Last year she arrived after many guests had already gone home.
What Is the Theme of the Met Gala 2026
As usual, the theme is related to the flagship exhibition the event is celebrating. This year it is the Costume Institute’s spring show, Costume Art (Fashion Is Art), which will display about 400 objects, including garments and artworks, exploring the history of fashion across different body types. It is a less controversial theme than last year’s, Superfine: tailoring black style (Superfine: the art of tailoring in black dandyism).
Zendaya, at the Met Gala 2025.
That the dress code this year is “fashion is art” leaves open to each celebrity’s interpretation of which haute couture designs will impress at the Met Gala 2026. We can expect everything from Saint Laurent or Christian Dior gowns to spectacular looks like when Billy Porter arrived at the party dressed as Cleopatra on six semi-naked bearers, or when Jared Leto paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld in 2023 by dressing as his beloved cat Choupette.
Who Are the Guests of the Met Gala 2026
The guest list is a closely guarded secret, but this year, as in 2025, there is an additional organizing committee led by Saint Laurent designer Anthony Vaccarello and actress Zoë Kravitz, filled with top-name attendees, all of whom will presumably make their entrance up the museum’s stairs.
Rosalía, en la Gala Met 2025.
Among its members are Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Teyana Taylor, Sam Smith, and Chase Sui Wonders. It is very likely that Jay-Z will attend to support his wife, as well as some combination of the Kardashians and the Jenners. Will Rosalía again represent Spain this year? It remains an open question, though her attendance is complicated by a concert in London the following day.
Those who are surely not going to be there will be Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, and his wife Rama Duwaji. Although the Met is an important institution and tourist attraction in the Big Apple, they have declined to attend on this occasion. The ostentatious displays of wealth at the gala clash with Mamdani’s commitment to making the city affordable for everyone again.
