2026 Met Gala theme and dress code, explained

The 2026 Met Gala is set to begin in just a few hours.

Annually held on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, this glamorous event serves as both a major fundraising event and a fashion extravaganza, providing a platform for celebrities to display some of their most dazzling and conversation-sparking outfits.

Attendees are encouraged to draw inspiration from the evening's theme in their attire choices. 

This year's exhibit, “Costume Art,” aligns with the "Fashion is Art" dress code, offering an invitation for creativity and audacity on the red carpet.

Such a broad interpretation generates excitement, especially for stars like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian, who are famed for making unforgettable style statements.

Co-chairing the 2026 gala are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.

Here is a comprehensive guide to the 2026 Met Gala's theme and dress instruction.

What is the 2026 Met Gala theme?

The theme chosen for the 2026 Met Gala is "Costume Art," a reference to the Metropolitan Museum's upcoming exhibition by the same name.

Announced in November 2025, the exhibition plans to unveil the Costume Institute's first set of permanent galleries — the expansive 12,000 square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries located near the museum's Great Hall. 

The "Costume Art" exhibit delves into “the core significance of the clothed figure” by presenting garments alongside paintings, sculptures, and artifacts spanning 5,000 years.

The “Costume Art” showcase will be available from May 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027, right after the Met Gala.

What is the 2026 Met Gala dress code?

In February 2026, Vogue declared that the 2026 Met Gala's dress code is "Fashion is Art."

This deliberately flexible dress code encourages attendees to view clothing as an artistic outlet, using the body as their canvas. 

Aligned with the exhibition's focus on the “dressed body,” the dress code encourages designers and celebrities to explore the interaction between fashion and human form, rather than merely recreating renowned artworks.

The creative latitude offered here will likely result in a wide array of interpretations on the red carpet — including creative silhouettes that contour the body, outfits inspired by paintings and art history, and extravagant, museum-quality ensembles that resemble artistic installations more than conventional formalwear.

What was the first-ever Met Gala theme?

The Costume Institute began hosting its Galas as fundraisers in 1948, but it wasn't until Diana Vreeland — who was Vogue's editor-in-chief between 1963 and 1971 — conceptualised the idea of themed events in her role as an advisor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Her 1973 theme, “The World of Balenciaga,” laid the groundwork for the blend of fashion and art that the gala celebrates today.

Themes grew more integral to the Met Gala in the mid-1990s — particularly with Wintour's appointment as chair in 1995, according to Vogue. 

What were the Met Gala themes in recent years?

In the past few years, the Met Gala themes have spanned a diverse range linked to the Costume Institute's annual exhibition. In 2025, the theme was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," succeeding the 2024 theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.”

The 2023 event paid tribute to designer Karl Lagerfeld through the theme “A Line of Beauty,” while both 2022 and 2021 focused on American fashion with “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” and “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” respectively.