Throughout the year, a few red carpets capture our attention, but there’s only one that has us talking for days afterwards. Of course, we’re talking about the Met Gala. Hosted at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Met Gala is the most exciting day on the fashion calendar and never fails to have everyone embrace their inner fashion critic.
The theme is different every year, and changes according to the museum’s spring exhibition. The Met Gala red carpet is an opportunity for designers and attendees alike to take real chances with their fashion, crafting true show-stoppers that get everyone talking. When it comes to the Met Gala, bigger is always better.
Ahead, we answer all the questions you might have about this year’s gala, including what this year’s theme is (and what it means for the fashion), as well as where to watch it and who will be attending.
When Is The 2026 Met Gala?
The Met Gala always takes place on the first Monday in May, which is May 4 this year. Red carpet arrivals will probably begin around 6 p.m. ET.
What Is The 2026 Met Gala Theme?
The 2026 Met Gala theme typically aligns with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring exhibition for that year. That exhibition was announced on Monday, November 17, 2025, to be “Costume Art”. Described by the museum as being around “the centrality of the dressed body in the museum’s vast collection”, expect guests to wear haute couture creations inspired by this theme. The dress code is slightly different, described as “fashion is art.”
The exhibition about the dressed body is to show the significance of the body, and how it cannot be separated from the clothes we wear. There are different themes, including the Naked Body, Classical Body, Pregnant Body and the Aging Body. We predict that some fashion houses will also draw from these characteristics when dressing their talent for the 2026 Met Gala, too. We may see interesting silhouettes and bold moves.
“What connects every curatorial department and what connects every single gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body,” Andrew Bolton told Vogue about the theme. “It’s the common thread throughout the whole museum, which is really what the initial idea for the exhibition was.”
Who Hosts The Met Gala?
Since 1995, the Met Gala has been hosted by Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue and Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast. This year, she has named Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Beyoncé as co-chairs for the event, with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs. This means they will officially welcome attendees to The Met on May 5.
Who Is Attending The 2026 Met Gala?
According to Vogue, the Met Gala typically has around 450 attendees, including the world’s biggest celebrities and many influential figures, such as politicians and the who’s who of the tech and creative industries.
The red carpet guest list is usually kept top secret, and 2026 is no different. However, there are some celebrities who almost always make an appearance at the Met Gala, including Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Zendaya, and Rihanna. Some of our predictions for 2026? BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Super Bowl Halftime performer Bad Bunny, Hailey Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande.
How Can I Watch The Met Gala Red Carpet?
Though the specific details on how to watch the Met Gala red carpet in 2026 are yet to be released, it’s usually easiest to view via Vogue’s digital channels. Last year, the carpet was live-streamed on the Vogue website, and on the brand’s Instagram, TikTok, and X pages.
For a curated view of the red carpet, you can also visit the Refinery29 homepage and Instagram, as we’ll be live posting the best looks from the day.
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