Fashion’s biggest night of the year is upon us. Like clockwork every year on the first Monday of May, The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the Met Gala. For some, this event might just be another day of the week, but for those into fashion, it’s bigger than the Super Bowl. The Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Costume Institute of the museum and supports its operating budget for the entire year. This party brings actors, singers, and athletes alike to swarm New York City and grace the steps of the institute.
Met Gala 2026 has a lot to live up to, coming after the 2025 gala, whose theme was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style in celebration of black dandyism. This dress code focused on the elegance of the black style. Last year, the event raised $31 million, the highest amount in the gala’s history. This year’s is one of the more straightforward sides, with the theme being Costume Art and the dress code being Fashion is Art.
May 4th, 2026, will host the Gala, where many socialites and A-listers will come together to turn the red carpet into a gallery. Anna Wintour will co-chair alongside Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman. As always, the list of the Gala host committee is extensive. Co-chaired by Zoe Kravitz and Anthony Vaccarello with attendees: Sabrina Carpenter, Teyana Taylor, Doja Cat, Alex Constai, and more
(YouTube/@Sleepy Historian and Hollywood Observer)
The Met Gala over the years
What we don’t see is the months of preparation or how the Gala came to be. The first Met Gala was held in December 1948, with a $50 admission fee. It wasn’t until 1973 that the first themed Met Gala was born, thanks to Vogue Editor-in-Chief at the time, Diana Vreeland. After becoming editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour also took over the Met Gala.
Since 2005, the Gala has been held on the first Monday of May, marking the opening of the institute’s annual fashion exhibit. As the Chairperson of the Gala and a trustee of the museum, Wintour selects the guest list and oversees the party’s creative direction. This is done with Andrew Bolton, the curator in chief at the museum, who primarily works on the event’s exhibition. Wintour and Bolton together spend months in preparation for the big night with the help of their teams, of course. Wintour also gained the support of a major name, such as Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, as the main sponsor. Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez, will be in attendance, which has viewers upset.
Due to Wintour’s endless hard work, the Costume Institute was renamed the Anna Wintour Costume Center in 2014. Since 1995, Wintour has raised over $125 Million dollars for the institute. During Wintour’s management, the ticket price has changed. In 2014, it was $30,000; in 2023, $50,000; and, most recently, $75,000 per ticket in 2024/25. Brands that dress celebrities can also buy a table. Last year, it was $350,000 per table. This is to keep up with the self-funded institution while maintaining the party’s exclusivity.
Costume art: fashion is art
I believe this year’s theme and dress code are a bit simpler than in past years, maybe even vague. The theme of Costume Art is applied to the decor. The theme is the museum’s exhibition’s artistic look. This comes down to Wintour, so there is no worry about whether it will succeed. On the other hand, the dress code is “Fashion is Art,” which tells the guest what to wear.
Bolton told Vogue that the collection is “the centrality of the dressed body in the museum’s vast collection.” This is supposed to center the body wearing the clothes. As Vogue mentioned, there will be varying types of bodies: “the naked body, the pregnant body, and the aging body.”
This, to me, screams sculptures, armor-like clothing, and statues. But I also predict some attendees will go a little out of the box. We could see pieces that actually look like paintings, or something I am really hoping to see: Andy Warhol-inspired pieces. Theatrical looks are also to be expected, like something we would see on an Alexander McQueen runway.
Fashion is art or fashion as art
To understand this dress code, we have to break down the bigger meaning behind it. “Fashion is Art,” is claiming that style, clothes, and pieces are something worthy of being called art (timeless), some believe the opposite. The debate over whether fashion is art dates back years.
Both art and fashion are considered visual expressions; designers like the late Karl Lagerfeld believed they should be separated. Lagerfeld is one of the most influential figures in luxury fashion, serving as the Creative Director of Chanel from 1983 to 2019. “Art is art, fashion is fashion,” Lagerfeld states in a quote often attributed to him, meaning Lagerfeld didn’t see fashion as fine art. One of the many definitions of fashion is: a system of dress and style influenced by culture, shaped by trends. While art is defined as the expression of human creative skill, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture. If art is a title often applied to dance, film, music, and novels, why can’t it be applied to fashion? Isn’t it just as timeless?
This is one of the main reasons why I believe this year’s theme is vague. The conversation of deciding whether fashion is art is already difficult. The guest outfits are always hit or miss (even with Wintour’s approval), so it’s hard to say what is to come. A lot of things are up to interpretation, but that makes it more exciting.
Met Gala carpet forecast
When it comes to the Met, we should always expect the unexpected. There is really no way to predict what will be seen that Monday night. Using the dress code “fashion is art” as a guide, I’ve compiled a few looks that could be similar to what we might see come May 4th.
(YouTube/@FF Channel)
This first one is Viktor & Rolf Haute Couture fall/winter 2015/16. It is a bit on the nose when it comes to “art,” but this would be so fun for the carpet. I think there will be a few pieces like this that call back to real art.
This Maison Margiela Artisanal 2025 Collection brings the sculpture essence I mentioned earlier. The way the clothing is one with the body and moves with it. I believe there will be many looks where it is hard to tell where the fabric ends and the body starts.
Another look, I could see on the carpet. This is Schiaparelli Haute Couture spring/summer 2022. This entire show was on another level. Comparing this to past Met Galas, this is definitely worthy of the carpet. After all, it is the Met Gala, so through all the suspicions, it will probably exceed expectations.
