The Met Gala is fashion’s biggest night, but what is it? And why are celebs wearing elaborate (and sometimes just weird) dresses? Us Weekly has you covered with answers to all of your burning questions about the Met Gala.
What Is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is a fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Also known as The Costume Institute Benefit, the event is the Costume Institute’s “primary source of funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations and capital improvements,” per The Met.
How Is the Met Gala Theme Chosen?
Every year, the theme matches The Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. In 2023, the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” exhibit is being celebrated. “The posthumous exhibition ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ (opening May 5) will spotlight the German fashion designer’s unique working methodology and examine his stylistic vocabulary through the aesthetic themes that recurred in his work during his time at Chanel, Fendi, his eponymous brand, Karl Lagerfeld, and more,” the Met stated in a press release.
The 2026 gala features a “Fashion Is Art” dress code, based on the gallery exhibit about costume art.
“It’s truly about studying the form of the human body in a very artistic way, and how to place clothing on the different parts of the human body,” event designer Raul Ávila told Us in May 2026. “We’re all completely different — some are thin, some are fuller, some are tall, some are short. It’s ‘Costume Is Art’ [sic] because they study the figure and shape of each human being, and from there they begin to design their pieces. It’s a very interesting theme.”
Why Are Met Gala Outfits Are So Weird?
It’s all about the theme. In 2019, the exhibit was “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” which encouraged stars to take on their campiest looks yet. Zendaya went as Cinderella, Jared Leto carried a Gucci prosthetic of his own head and Katy Perry was a chandelier before changing into a couture hamburger costume. Even when the theme is less outrageous, the benefit is for the Costume Institute, so designers like to embrace the opportunity to push boundaries and take creative risks.
Most of the outfits are approved by Wintour in advance.
“They don’t come to her because they think that she’s going to say something bad. She’s just going to guide the person to the best of her knowledge. She’s Anna Wintour,” Ávila told Us. “She was the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine for over 30 years. She is the bible of fashion. She is the woman who has brought this today. So, yes, it’s respectful to hear what she has to say about what you’re going to wear.”
When Is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is typically held the first Monday in May. It marks the opening of the Costume Institute’s new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Monday is Broadway’s “dark” day, meaning most Broadway theaters are closed. That almost guarantees that theater stars and theatergoers are available — a key element for an iconic New York City event.
Arrivals are set to start at 5:30 p.m. ET and can continue until as late as 9:30 p.m. ET.
Where Is the Met Gala?
The event is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Fifth Avenue location in New York City’s Upper East Side. Attendees will walk the red carpet and climb the iconic steps before enjoying the dinner inside the venue. (The museum is closed on the first Monday every May to accommodate the event.)
Who Gets to Attend the Met Gala?
It’s a fundraiser, so of the roughly 400 people who attend the Met Gala donate a lot of money to the museum or attend on behalf of a benefactor. Celebrities are often invited by fashion houses, which pay for full tables at the Met. Tables start at $300,000 for the 2023 event, according to The New York Times, while individuals can buy their own tickets for $50,000.
Can Anyone With the Money Buy Tickets to the Met Gala?
No. Anna Wintour, who has served as a chairwoman since 1995, gets final say over the entire guest list.
