Met Gala 2026: Theme, Celebrities, and How to Watch

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The world's most prestigious fashion event, the 2026 Met Gala, will soon welcome fashion and art lovers back on Monday, May 4, 2026.

Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, this annual event is always a highlight, showcasing the most creative interpretations of fashion by celebrities and global figures.

The Met Gala is more than just a fashion show; it is also a crucial annual fundraising event for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Led by fashion legend Anna Wintour since 1995, the event raises millions of dollars annually to support the institute's exhibitions and programs.

With the exhibition theme "Costume Art" and the dress code "Fashion Is Art," the 2026 Met Gala is expected to present an in-depth exploration of the relationship between fashion, the body, and art.

The Met Gala takes place today. Dress code: FASHION IS ART. pic.twitter.com/uxkFom78Gf

— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 4, 2026

As tradition has it, the 2026 Met Gala will be held on the first Monday in May, May 4, 2026. This grand event will take place at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, which houses the Costume Institute.

This location is well-chosen, as the Met Gala is the primary fundraising event for the Costume Institute.

All proceeds go to support the museum's operations and the fashion exhibitions it hosts throughout the year.

This highly anticipated red carpet event typically begins around 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), although guests may begin arriving as early as 4:30 PM ET.

For viewers in other time zones, such as India, the live broadcast will begin at 3:30 AM IST on May 5.

The 2026 Met Gala features the compelling exhibition theme of "Costume Art," which will explore the complex relationship between fashion and the human body.

The exhibition will feature nearly 400 objects spanning 5,000 years of history, with a focus on artistic representations of the clothed body.

Curator Andrew Bolton explains that "Costume Art" aims to celebrate the body in all its aspects—its strengths and weaknesses, its perfections and imperfections, and its incredible diversity.

In line with the exhibition theme, the official dress code for the 2026 Met Gala is "Fashion Is Art."

Guests are expected to interpret this theme through their own personal lenses, expressing their unique relationship to fashion as an embodied art form.

Some may draw on explorations of the clothed body throughout art history, while others may lean toward relevant contemporary runway collections.

The "Costume Art" exhibition will be the first at the new Condé M. Nast Galleries and will be open to the public from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, providing an opportunity for the public to experience immersive works of fashion art.

Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour will preside over this prestigious event.

Furthermore, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos will be in attendance as honorary co-chairs and main sponsors of the gala and exhibition.

The other guests are Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, LISA, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Zoë Kravitz, Anthony Vaccarello (creative director of Saint Laurent), A'ja Wilson, Misty Copeland, Lena Dunham, Alex Consani, Gwendoline Christie, Elizabeth Debicki, Paloma Elsesser, Angela Bassett, Emma Chamberlain, Cara Delevingne, Ashley Graham, La La Anthony, Hailey Bieber, Sarah Pidgeon, SZA, Bad Bunny, Kendall Jenner, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams, Rebecca Hall, Zendaya, Adut Akech, Sinéad Burke, Harry Styles, Chase Sui Wonders, Anna Weyant, and Lauren Wasser.

For those who don't want to miss the excitement of the 2026 Met Gala, the event can be watched live via livestream on Vogue's various digital platforms.

Vogue's official channels on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and the official Vogue website will livestream the stylish red carpet moments.In addition, E! will also provide exclusive red carpet coverage through its "Live From E!: Met Gala 2026" segment.

Viewers can access E! via cable television, the Peacock streaming service, or subscription platforms such as Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Sling TV.