Met Gala season is here. The annual event takes place, according to its traditional calendar, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the first Monday in May (this year May 4, 2026). We know the Met Gala is a whirlwind of fashion, beauty, imagination, and creativity, so it’s fair if you have a lot of questions about this prestigious event. If you’re wondering “What is the Met Gala?” or “What happens at the Met Gala?” Don’t worry, we have a quick summary of everything you need. Starting with the basics, you may or may not know that Condé Nast Chief Content Officer Anna Wintour has been co-chairing the Met Gala since 1999, and she is the backbone of fashion’s biggest night.
Wintour has been running the Met Gala since 1995, making it one of the most notable celebrations of art and fashion. And behind all the glitz and glamor on the red carpet, there is a curated exhibition for the attendees (and ultimately the public) to enjoy. The theme of the Met Gala 2026 focuses on “costume art” and the relationship between fashion and the decorated body. The exhibit, which runs from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, includes pieces from designers like Thom Browne, Robert Wun, Christian Louboutin, and Telfer, and includes topics on skin, disabled bodies, plus-size bodies (dubbed “corpulent”, which has sparked some controversy), and more.
The theme of the festival is “Fashion Is Art” and encourages wearers to celebrate the connection between the two with designs that reference anything from paintings to sculptures and photographs. And many celebrities took advantage of this opportunity shed light on black artFollowing 2025’s theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, taking representation into their own hands.
Co-chairs of the 2026 Met Gala included Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman and, of course, Anna Wintour. In another round of controversy, Lauren Sanchez Bezos served as honorary co-chair and main sponsor alongside her husband Jeff Bezos, although Sanchez Bezos walked the red carpet alone. Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about the 2026 Met Gala.
