The 2026 Met Gala is hardly a day away, taking place on the first Monday of May. This year, it is set to take place on May 4, with Indian viewers getting to view the event in the early morning hours on May 5 according to the Indian Standard Time (IST). With the theme of the Met Gala being ‘Costume Art’, the much-anticipated global event is expected to bring several A-list celebrities from across the globe under one roof. What is the dress code, who is expected to attend, and how can you watch the event live? We have all the details!
Met Gala: Overview, Theme, Where To Watch, & More
Overview Of The Met Gala
The Met Gala, formerly known as the Costume Institute Benefit, is an annual, exclusive fundraising gala. Having been held since 1948, the gala is held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute on the Museum Mile of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Each year, the event announces a specific theme for that year’s Costume Institute exhibition. A dress code is also set for the night, which the celebrities attending the gala are expected to abide by.
The actual event is off-limits to the public, but the main attraction grabbing eyeballs is the red carpet before the event. Each year, millions of people tune in from around the world to catch celeb looks on the red carpet. And over the years, the Met Gala has become a global cultural phenomenon, mostly for its scintillating red carpet appearances and extensive media coverage.
Met Gala 2026 Details: Theme, Co-Chairs, And Other Details
The 2026 theme of the Costume Institute Exhibition is “Costume Art”, exploring the relationship between fashion and the human body as a form of artistic expression.
The dress code for the night is ‘Fashion is Art’ in correlation to the exhibition theme. Guests will be expected to follow the dress code like any other year.
The high-profile event will be chaired by Anna Wintour. Co-chairs for the 2026 Met Gala include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams. Beyoncé will be attending the event after almost ten years, making her return more exciting.
While the guest list is under wraps, many celebrities across art, cinema, and sports are expected to attend the event. Rumored attendees include Rihanna, Anok Yai, Bad Bunny, Anne Hathaway, Cardi B, Sabrina Carpenter, and Addison Rae, among others.
Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Teyana Taylor, Lisa from BLACKPINK, Elizabeth Debicki and Lena Dunham are among the members of this year’s host committee. The committee will be headed up by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz.
Along with them, Emma Chamberlain, Cara Delevingne, Ashley Graham and La La Anthony are expected to lead interviews and livestream segments, meaning they’ll be attending the event.
Among Indian celebrities, Isha Ambani, Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar, and Natasha Poonawalla are rumored to attend the Met Gala 2026. Many media outlets are speculating about Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt’s return to the Met Gala red carpet.
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Met Gala Rules You Might Know About
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It is an invite-only event
It goes without saying that the Met Gala is one of the most exclusive high-profile events in the world. Celebs show up only when invited, and many names in the guest list keep shuffling every year. Which means that even if a celebrity has attended the event in the past, it does not guarantee an automatically renewed invitation the next year. The decision of inviting celebrities depends on the Met Gala chair, Anna Wintour, also the former editor-in-chief of Vogue.
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Each seat comes with a price
The Met Gala is not a free-to-enter event. It is a fundraiser event, so each guest must pay a certain amount to enter. However, celebrities don’t typically foot the bill; the brands dressing them do. For example, if a celebrity is attending the event wearing Prada, Prada must pay for the guest.
In 2025, one ticket cost approximately $75,000 (approx. INR 71,25,262) according to Time. This year, that price has jumped, reaching approximately $100,000 (INR 95,00,350). Full tables will start at INR $350,000 (INR 3,32,51,225) as per the New York Times.
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Guests must sit in the assigned seats only
Each year, the committee, chaired by Anna Wintour, plans the seating arrangement meticulously. Guests cannot just sit on any seat of their choice – each seat and table is planned and assigned with a lot of attention.
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Phones are prohibited
The event has a strict no-phone (and subsequently no-social media) policy inside the venue. This is to maintain the confidentiality and exclusivity of the event. Celebrities are advised against using their phones, but over the years, many celebs have broken the rule to click snapshots from inside the venue.
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Smoking is prohibited
As the event takes place inside a closed venue, guests must adhere to the institution’s no-smoking policy. While some celebrities have broken the rule and subsequently got blacklisted, guests are expected to strictly follow this policy.
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Where To Watch The Met Gala 2026 Live?
Like each year, Vogue will host the livestream from the red carpet. Ashley Graham, Cara Delevigne, and La La Anthony will host this year’s coverage, with Emma Chamberlain returning as Vogue’s red carpet correspondent.
The livestream will be hosted across Vogue’s digital platforms, as well as YouTube and TikTok.
Along with Vogue officially covering the event, many lifestyle portals, news publications, and media houses will cover the event, providing timely updates about celeb appearances and red carpet looks.
The event will start at 6 PM EDT (Eastern Time) on May 4. For Indian audiences, the event will begin at 3:30 AM IST on May 5.
Summing Up
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The Met Gala 2026 is expected to promise a number of innovative red carpet looks owing to its theme. With many globally-renowned celebrities rumored to attend the event, the Met Gala is about to be one of the biggest big-ticket events of the year. Which celebrity are you the most excited about to see on the red carpet?
FAQs
What Time Does The Met Gala Start?
The Met Gala will start at 6 PM Eastern Time on May 4, which is 3:30 AM IST on May 5, 2026.
Do Celebrities Pay For A Met Gala?
Celebrities usually do not pay for the Met Gala out of their pocket. The brands dressing them up for the event usually pay for the ticket.
Where Will The 2026 Met Gala Be Held?
The Met Gala 2026 will be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
