Met Gala 2026 guide: How to watch, theme and what to expect in NYC
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) Met Gala Chair, Anna Wintour, Met Gala Co-Chair Colman Domingo and Met Gala Co-Chair Lewis Hamilton attend the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 20
NEW YORK - The biggest night in fashion returned to New York City with spectacle, star power and a theme that’s, of course, sparking conversation.
A theme that blurred the lines: ‘Fashion is art’
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Teyana Taylor attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
This year’s Met Gala centered on the idea that fashion goes beyond clothing — it’s a form of art.
The official dress code, "Fashion is art," asked guests to express their personal connection to fashion as an embodied art form.
That meant the "red" carpet doubled as a living gallery, with celebrities turning the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps into a showcase of creativity.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: (Exclusive Coverage) A view inside the venue for the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG25/Getty Images for T
For years, insiders have debated whether fashion belongs in the same category as traditional art. This theme leans all the way in, leaving little room for doubt.
What you saw on the red carpet
Atmosphere at The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Bold interpretations of the theme were plentiful.
Guests could pull from iconic fashion history, like archival looks or debut custom designs inspired by famous artworks. Designers have long collaborated with artists, from Elsa Schiaparelli’s Salvador Dalí-inspired lobster dress to Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian collection and Marc Jacobs’ work with Takashi Murakami.
There’s also room for performance; the Met Gala carpet has evolved into more than just a photo op, with some attendees treating their looks as full artistic statements, or even performance art.
Why the theme mattered
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Maya Hawke attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
The Costume Institute’s spring exhibition often sets the tone for the gala, and this year’s showcase focused on the role of the dressed body in art.
That’s a notable shift from earlier eras. As The Associated Press reports, fashion wasn’t always taken seriously in the art world.
In the 19th century, art was viewed as classical while fashion was dismissed as frivolous.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Serena Williams attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Even the Met’s first fashion exhibit in 1983, featuring Yves Saint Laurent, faced criticism. Today, fashion exhibitions are widely embraced, and major museums around the world have followed suit.
Experts say this year’s theme could further cement fashion’s place in the art conversation.
The stars that attended
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Diana Ross attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
The guest list was kept tightly under wraps, but A-list names, from Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman to Venus Williams, all made an appearance.
Each brought their own interpretation of the theme, making the arrivals one of the most anticipated "red" carpets of the year.
The Source: This report is based on information from the Associated Press.