NEW YORK — The Met Gala 2026 will return on May 4 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where guests will interpret the dress code “Fashion is Art” as part of this year’s celebration of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibit, organizers said.
The annual event raises funds for the museum’s Costume Institute, the only self-funding department at the Met. Last year’s gala generated more than $31 million, according to organizers.
The 2026 theme, “Costume Art,” will accompany an exhibition pairing about 200 artworks with 200 garments to explore the relationship between fashion and visual art across history.
The event will be co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, with additional support from a host committee that includes figures from fashion, film, music, and sports.
This year’s gala will also introduce new exhibition space at the museum, including the Condé M. Nast Galleries, which will house the “Costume Art” display and allow guests easier access between the exhibit and the gala dinner inside the Temple of Dendur.
The Met Gala, which began in 1948 as a fundraising dinner, has grown into one of the most high-profile events in fashion and entertainment. Attendance is strictly by invitation, with individual tickets reportedly priced at $100,000 and tables reaching $350,000.