Tonight, May 4, 2026, the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City will once again transform into the most exclusive, heavily photographed red carpet.
As celebrities, designers, and fashion enthusiasts prepare for the annual extravaganza that funds the Met’s Costume Institute, expectations are running high. With a massive list of A-listers slated to attend, a brand-new generation of internet-breaking couples making their potential debuts, and a few high-profile boycotts making headlines, this year’s gala promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.
Before the live streams kick off, here is your definitive guide to the 2026 Met Gala, including the theme, the hosts, who is walking the carpet, and who is surprisingly staying home.
The Theme and Dress Code: “Costume Art”
This year’s overarching exhibition theme is “Costume Art,” a sweeping look at the intersection between fashion, the human body, and traditional Western art forms from prehistory to the present. The exhibition, curated by Andrew Bolton, contrasts garments with famous sculptures and paintings to highlight the intrinsic relationship between clothing and the artistic representation of the body.
For the guests climbing the steps tonight, the official dress code is simply: “Fashion Is Art.” Expect to see some wildly bold, architectural, and avant-garde looks tonight. Guests are expected to treat the human body as a moving canvas. We will likely see heavy references to famous sculptures (think Michelangelo’s David or the Venus of Willendorf), heavily structured designs, surrealist homages, and likely a significant amount of artistic nudity and sheer fabrics. It is an open-ended prompt that demands true creativity over simple glamour.
The Co-Chairs: Beyoncé Returns
Every year, Anna Wintour selects a panel of high-profile co-chairs from the worlds of music, film, and sports to help her curate the guest list and oversee the massive event.
This year, the panel is an absolute powerhouse. The 2026 Met Gala co-chairs are:
Beyoncé: Making her highly anticipated return to the Met Gala for the first time in an entire decade (her last appearance was in 2016 for Manus x Machina).
Nicole Kidman: The Academy Award-winning actress and eternal fashion icon.
Venus Williams: The legendary tennis champion bringing a massive athletic presence to the committee.
Anna Wintour: The Vogue global content director and chairwoman.
Note: Jeff and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are also serving as the honorary chairs and lead sponsors for the spectacle, a decision that has sparked some notable controversy and boycott campaigns from activist groups around New York City.
The Guest List: Who is Attending Tonight?
While Anna Wintour’s official guest list is strictly guarded until the stars actually step out of their sprinters, the rumor mill has provided a very clear picture of who we can expect to see interpreting the “Fashion Is Art” directive.
- The Pop Titans: Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and Rihanna are all heavily expected to dominate the carpet tonight. Fans are also buzzing with rumors that K-pop sensation BTS might be making a massive group appearance.
- Hollywood Royalty: Anne Hathaway, Jacob Elordi, and Bad Bunny are on the rumored lists.
- The Couples: The internet is fiercely hoping for a joint walk from Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet, as well as the red carpet debut of Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles.
- Global Debuts: Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar is confirmed to make his highly anticipated Met Gala debut tonight, reportedly wearing a custom creation by legendary Indian designer Manish Malhotra. He is expected to be joined by fellow Met Gala regular Natasha Poonawalla and actress Alia Bhatt.
The Absentees: Which Iconic Regulars Are Skipping?
Sometimes, who isn’t on the carpet generates just as much conversation as who is. The 2026 event has an unusually high number of notable absentees, ranging from scheduling conflicts to alleged boycotts.
- Zendaya: After serving as a co-chair and delivering multiple legendary looks over the past seven consecutive galas, Zendaya is reportedly sitting this year out due to prior filming commitments. Her absence leaves a massive, meticulously crafted hole on the carpet.
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Another beloved Met Gala regular, Priyanka is skipping tonight. She is currently tied up shooting her upcoming SS Rajamouli film Varanasi in the remote climate of Antarctica, and is also slated to receive the Global Vanguard honor in Los Angeles later this week.
- Meryl Streep: Fresh off her massive, record-breaking opening weekend for The Devil Wears Prada 2, Streep is reportedly not attending this year’s artistic celebration.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani: Breaking from the tradition of recent New York City mayors attending the high-society event, Mayor Mamdani and his wife Rima Duwaji have confirmed they are skipping the gala. Many speculate this is a quiet nod to the protests surrounding Jeff Bezos’s massive sponsorship of the night.
- Lauren Santo Domingo: The socialite and Moda Operandi co-founder is also reportedly sitting out tonight’s festivities.
Whether you are tuning in to see Beyoncé’s grand return, waiting to see if fashion truly is art, or just watching the internet judge multimillion-dollar outfits from their couches, tonight is guaranteed to be a historic evening for pop culture.
