The theme is titled “Costume Art”. This marks a shift from previous themes that often focused on historical or cultural references. The accompanying exhibition will open on May 10, 2026, and it will explore the interplay between the body and clothing over a century.

Key facts:

• The dress code for the Met Gala is “Fashion is Art”.
• Co-chairs for the event include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.
• The exhibition will include garments by designers such as Rei Kawakubo and Riccardo Tisci.
• It will feature custom mannequins to represent diverse body types.

Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute, stated that “Costume Art” is a celebration of the body in all its strengths and weaknesses. He added that the focus is on bodies marginalized in fashion and those that haven’t been valorized in either fashion or Western culture. This approach aims to broaden representation on the red carpet.

The Met Gala is not just a fashion event; it serves as a charity event for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. In 2025, the gala raised $31 million, marking the highest amount in its history. This financial success underscores its significant cultural impact.

The exhibition will also include thematic chapters such as “The Naked Body” and “The Pregnant Body”. These themes aim to challenge traditional notions of beauty and representation within the fashion industry.

This progressive direction reflects an evolving conversation around inclusivity in fashion. The new gallery for the Costume Institute is named after Condé Montrose Nast, further emphasizing its historical significance.

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The Met Gala serves as a fundraising dinner for the Costume Institute. It is co-chaired by prominent figures including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. The dress code encourages attendees to wear garments that could be classified as ‘art’. Protests are expected near The Met during the event.

The accompanying exhibition, titled ‘Costume Art’, will open on May 10 and run until January 10, 2027. Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute, stated that “Costume Art” celebrates diverse body types and aims to focus on marginalized bodies in fashion. He emphasized the exhibition’s goal to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the human body.

Attendees can look forward to seeing around 33,000 items of clothing and accessories from the Met’s collection. The gala is known as ‘the Oscars of fashion’ and will be livestreamed on Vogue’s website and YouTube channel. The new Costume Institute gallery covers 12,000 square feet and is designed by Paterson Rich Office.

In addition to fashion highlights, this year’s event will feature custom mannequins designed for diverse body types. This aspect aligns with the exhibition’s focus on inclusivity within fashion culture. It marks a significant shift towards recognizing various body shapes in high fashion.

As part of the preparations, organizers have noted that approximately 1.5 million objects are spread across 17 departments in the Met’s collection. The last major exhibition attracted over 1.6 million visitors in 2018, showcasing public interest in such events.

With less than a month until the gala, tensions surrounding its sponsorship continue to grow. Critics argue that the involvement of Bezos contradicts the values many attendees wish to promote through fashion. Yet, supporters believe his sponsorship could enhance fundraising efforts for the Costume Institute.

The Met Gala remains a pivotal moment in the fashion calendar, drawing attention from around the world. As anticipation builds for this year’s event, it promises both glamour and controversy.

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