Throughout the year, several red carpets catch our attention, but there is only one we talk to a few days later. Of course, we’re talking about the Met Gala. Hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Met Gala is one of the most exciting days on the fashion calendar and it never fails to get everyone to embrace their inner fashion critic.
The theme is different every year, and changes depending on the museum’s spring exhibit. The Met Gala red carpet is an opportunity for designers and attendees alike to take real chances with their fashion, creating real show stoppers that get everyone talking. When it comes to the Met Gala, bigger is always better.
Ahead, we’ll answer all the questions you might have about this year’s gallery, including what this year’s theme is (and what it means for fashion), as well as where you can 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. The red carpet arrivals will likely begin around 6 pm ET.
What is the Theme for the 2026 Met Gala?
The theme of the 2026 Met Gala usually coincides with that year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art spring show. That exhibition was announced on Monday, November 17, 2025, to be “Costume Art”. Described by the museum as “at the center of the clothed body in the museum’s vast collection”, expect visitors to wear haute couture creations inspired by this theme. The dress code is slightly different, defined as “fashion is art.”
An exhibition about the clothed body is to show the importance of the body, and how it can be separated from the clothes we wear. There are different themes, including Naked Body, Classic Body, Pregnant Body and Aging Body. We predict that other fashion houses will pick up on these elements when dressing their talent for the 2026 Met Gala, too. We can see interesting silhouettes and bold movements.
“What connects all the curatorial departments and what connects every gallery in the museum is fashion, or the clothed body,” Andrew Bolton told Vogue about the theme. “It’s a common thread throughout the museum, which is really what the original idea of this exhibit was.”
Who hosts the Met Gala?
Since 1995, the Met Gala has been hosted by Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief ofAmerican Vogueand Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast. This year, he named Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Beyoncé as co-chairs of the event, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs. This means they will officially welcome visitors to The Met on May 5.
Who’s Attending The 2026 Met Gala?
In accordance withVoguethe Met Gala usually has around 450 guests, including the world’s biggest celebrities and many influential people, such as politicians and the who’s who of the technology and art industries.
Red carpet guest lists are usually top secret, and 2026 is no different. However, there are celebrities who are almost always seen 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?
While the exact details of how to watch the Met Gala red carpet in 2026 have yet to be released, it’s usually easy to watch viaVoguedigital channels. Last year, the carpet was broadcast live onVoguewebsite, and on Instagram, TikTok, and X product pages.
For a curated look at the red carpet, you can also visit Ujo Shop’s homepage and Instagram, as we’ll be live posting the best looks from the day.
Like what you see? How about a nice R29, right here?
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