Met Gala 2026: When and where to watch, theme, star-studded guest list and more

The 78th Met Gala, one of the most closely watched nights in the global fashion calendar, is set to return on the first Monday of May, bringing together leading figures from entertainment, sport, fashion and business at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The annual fundraising event will once again place high fashion at the centre of cultural conversation, with a theme designed to blur the line between clothing and art.

As anticipation builds, attention is focused not only on the red carpet looks but also on the theme, guest list speculation, and how viewers around the world can tune in.

Theme and dress code

This year’s exhibition theme is ‘Costume Art’, while the red carpet dress code is ‘Fashion Is Art’. Organisers have drawn a clear distinction between the two: the theme ties into the museum’s spring exhibition opening on May 10, while the dress code is intended to guide guests in expressing their personal interpretation of fashion as a creative medium.

Guests are expected to lean heavily into avant-garde, sculptural and experimental designs, with outfits likely to resemble wearable installations rather than conventional couture. 

Date, timing and where to watch

The Met Gala 2026 red carpet will take place on Monday, May 4, with the live stream beginning at 6 pm ET / 3 pm PT in the United States.

For Indian audiences, the broadcast will be available on Tuesday, May 5, from 3:30 am IST. Viewers can watch the event live via Vogue’s YouTube channel, as well as streaming platforms including Peacock, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV.

Co-chairs and host committee

This year’s co-chairs include singer Beyoncé, actor Nicole Kidman and tennis legend Venus Williams, alongside Vogue’s Global Editorial Director Anna Wintour, who oversees the final guest list and overall curation of the event.

The wider host committee features several Gen-Z and global pop culture figures, including Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat and BLACKPINK’s Lisa. The group plays a key role in shaping the event’s tone and visibility across entertainment and fashion industries.

Guest list buzz and Indian representation

While the official guest list remains undisclosed, speculation is already building around appearances from major global celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Zendaya, Hailey Bieber and members of the Kardashian family.

There is also strong anticipation around possible appearances from BTS, alongside Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who are serving as honorary co-chairs and lead sponsors.

From India, several prominent names are expected to feature prominently. Filmmaker Karan Johar is set to make his Met Gala debut in collaboration with designer Manish Malhotra. Others expected on the red carpet include Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, Isha Ambani, Natasha Poonawalla and Ananya Birla, all of whom have previously drawn attention for their fashion choices at international events.

Tickets, tables and access

Attendance at the Met Gala remains one of the most expensive invitations in the cultural world. Individual tickets are priced at around $100,000 (approximately ₹95 lakh), while tables begin at roughly $350,000 (about ₹3 crore).

Despite the cost, entry is not guaranteed by payment alone. Guest lists are tightly controlled by Anna Wintour and her team, with many attendees invited and styled by major fashion houses as part of sponsorship arrangements.

Inside the Met Gala: seating, food and rules

Seating arrangements at the gala are carefully planned, with Wintour retaining final approval over placements. A digital mapping system is used to seat more than 450 guests, with organisers following structured patterns including alternating seating arrangements and colour-coded groupings.

Spouses are typically seated apart to encourage wider networking among attendees, while the atmosphere is curated to maintain what organisers describe as ‘feel-good vibes’.

The menu is also tightly controlled. Strong-smelling ingredients such as garlic, onions and chives are banned, and messy foods like bruschetta are avoided to protect couture outfits.

Since 2015, the event has also enforced a strict no-phone and no-social-media policy inside the venue. Despite this, unofficial images, including so-called “bathroom selfies”, have frequently surfaced online after the event.

Controversy over Bezos involvement

This year’s gala has also attracted criticism following the announcement of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary co-chairs. Activists in New York have reportedly displayed posters reading "Boycott the Bezos Met Gala", arguing that the event is increasingly aligned with corporate and billionaire influence rather than its original artistic purpose.