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Beyonc茅, Bezos, baubles and bustiers: What to know about the 2026 Met Gala

FILE - Zendaya Coleman attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala in New York on May 6, 2024. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Fashionistas knew this already: 鈥淔ashion is Art.鈥 But how will Met Gala guests at this year鈥檚 extravaganza?

Last year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淭ailored For You,鈥 led to a lot of great suits; this year鈥檚 promises to produce some truly flamboyant attire as guests mount the famous carpeted steps on May 4. As always, the dress code is inspired by the of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 鈥淐ostume Art鈥 pairs some 200 art objects with 200 garments to highlight the connection between fashion and art through the centuries.

Here are some key things to know as approaches:

When is the Met Gala?

As always, the first Monday in May.

What exactly is the Met Gala?

It鈥檚 a fundraiser for the Costume Institute, the only self-funding department at the Met 鈥 and it’s a huge one. Last year the evening brought in a record sum of more than $31 million.

Who鈥檚 hosting?

None other than Beyonc茅, a familiar gala guest, is a co-chair, joined by and the one who runs it all, Vogue鈥檚 There’s also a 鈥渉ost committee鈥 chaired by designer Anthony Vaccarello and filmmaker Zo毛 Kravitz, and featuring

But the names generating the most discussion are 鈥.

鈥淭he exhibition and benefit are made possible by Jeff Bezos and Lauren S谩nchez Bezos,鈥 said a Met press release in February. We tried, but the museum won鈥檛 say how much the Amazon founder and his wife, as lead sponsors and honorary chairs, are contributing. Protest against their participation has come from an activist group called Everyone Hates Elon, which posted an Instagram video of members hacking subway display cases to post anti-billionaire messages.

Who WON鈥橳 be there?

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office on an affordability platform, told the local news outlet Hell Gate he will not attend. Among past New York mayors who’ve attended is Eric Adams, on the back in 2022.

Anything new this year?

Yes, new digs. 鈥淐ostume Art鈥 will inaugurate the Conde M. Nast Galleries, created from what was formerly the museum鈥檚 retail store and occupying nearly 12,000 square feet (1,115 square meters) off the museum鈥檚 Great Hall.

Aside from giving fashion a grander display space, this means gala guests now can stroll easily between the show and the dinner at the Temple of Dendur. In a more lasting way, it will prevent snaking lines elsewhere in the museum once the show opens to the public May 10.

Even the mannequins are new

Despite the prominence of classic body shapes through art history, curator Andrew Bolton has made sure there鈥檚 an element of body positivity in his exhibit, with sections on body types long ignored in art: the corpulent body, for example, and the disabled body. And Nine real-life people 鈥 including disability activist Sin茅ad Burke 鈥 allowed their bodies to be digitally scanned for the mannequins, which will also bear mirror-like polished steel surfaces so viewers can see themselves.

How long has this been going on?

The Met Gala started in 1948 as a Manhattan society midnight supper 鈥 held at various places like the Waldorf Astoria and the Rainbow Room. It took many years before it turned into a global event and one of the starriest nights of the year.

Can anyone buy a ticket to the Met Gala?

No. You must be rich, famous or powerful enough to be invited.

If I had one, how much would it cost?

Individual tickets are $100,000, and a table of 10 starts at $350,000. There will be approximately 400 guests in all.

How do guests spend the evening?

After the carpet, guests enter the museum, check in (and get stickers placed over their phone cameras!) and walk past an enormous flower arrangement in the museum鈥檚 lobby. Often there is an orchestra playing.

After hitting the receiving line, everyone heads either to cocktails, or to the exhibit. Then to dinner. By the main course, most tardy guests have managed to arrive, but not all. Some even wait 鈥檛il dessert.

Then again, occasionally, you鈥檒l see a guest or two leave before dinner even starts. They must have a REALLY great after-party to attend.

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For more coverage of the 2026 Met Gala, visit:

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