Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman Lead All-Female Chair Lineup at 2026 Met Gala

Key facts

• The 2026 Met Gala raised approximately $31 million for the Costume Institute, a record high in its 77-year history.
• The event took place on May 4, 2026, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
• Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.
• The exhibition 'Costume Art' opens May 10, spanning 5,000 years of fashion and art in the new Condé M. Nast Galleries.
• Dress code: 'Fashion Is Art,' encouraging sculptural, structural designs and homages to classic artworks.
• Honorary chairs are Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, as lead sponsors.
• The red carpet livestream began at 6 p.m. ET on Vogue's digital platforms, including YouTube and TikTok.

A Night of Record Fundraising and Artistic Ambition

The 2026 Met Gala, held on May 4 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, raised an unprecedented $31 million for the Costume Institute, surpassing the previous year's $26 million. The event, often called the 'Oscars of fashion,' marked the 77th iteration of the fundraiser, which has become the most influential night in fashion philanthropy. The evening's proceeds will support the Costume Institute's new permanent home in the Condé M. Nast Galleries, a 12,000-square-foot space off the museum's Great Hall. The gallery's inaugural exhibition, 'Costume Art,' curated by Andrew Bolton, opens to the public on May 10.

All-Female Co-Chair Lineup Signals a New Chapter

For the first time in recent memory, the Met Gala's co-chair roster is entirely female, featuring Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The quartet represents a cross-section of music, film, sports, and fashion media, underscoring the event's broad cultural reach. Beyoncé's return to the Met Gala after a decade-long absence was a major draw, while Venus Williams brought athletic prestige and Nicole Kidman added Hollywood gravitas. The all-female leadership follows a 2025 lineup that was predominantly male, marking a deliberate shift in representation.

Dress Code 'Fashion Is Art' Inspires Sculptural Silhouettes and Artistic Homages

The evening's dress code, 'Fashion Is Art,' challenged attendees to treat their outfits as living sculptures or paintings. The result was a parade of structural designs, architectural silhouettes, and direct references to iconic artworks. Rihanna arrived in a Maison Margiela fall 2025 couture piece featuring a metallic wreath, while A$AP Rocky complemented her in a pink Chanel robe with a floral brooch. Designer Thom Browne dressed his cohort of guests to represent the nine thematic sections of the exhibition: Pregnant Body, Corpulent Body, Disabled Body, Naked & Nude Body, Classical Body, Abstract Body, Aging Body, Mortal Body, and Epidermal Body. Other notable looks included Lisa in a sheer gown with 'second hands' and Karina in an opulent, sculptural dress.

Exhibition Explores the Body Through 5,000 Years of Fashion and Art

The 'Costume Art' exhibition, curated by Andrew Bolton, presents approximately 400 objects spanning five millennia, drawn from the museum's collections. The show is organized into thematic 'body types,' including the pregnant body, aging body, and anatomical body, aiming to deconstruct traditional ideals of perfection. Bolton's framework juxtaposes historical garments with contemporary designs, such as a pregnancy dress by Georgina Godley from 1986 and a Y/Project suit by Glenn Martens from 2022. The exhibition also features artworks like Max Weber's 'Figure in Rotation' (1917) to illustrate the dialogue between fashion and fine art.

Inside the Gala: Strict No-Phone Policy and Exclusive Performances

Once inside the museum, guests were subject to a strict no-phone policy, prohibiting selfies and social media posts — though some celebrities, like Kendall Jenner in 2015, have famously circumvented the rule by taking photos in restrooms. The evening's program included a cocktail hour, a seated dinner, and at least one high-profile performance. The museum's Great Hall featured elaborate decorations; in 2025, artist Cy Gavin installed a towering daffodil sculpture and projected his painting 'Untitled (Sky)' onto the Temple of Dendur ceiling. For 2026, the decor remained under wraps but was expected to reflect the exhibition's themes.

Honorary Chairs and Host Committee Signal Corporate and Cultural Ties

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos served as honorary chairs, with their foundation acting as lead sponsor for the gala and exhibition. The host committee included a diverse roster of 28 figures, from designers Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz to musicians Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, and Sam Smith, as well as athletes A'ja Wilson and activists Sinéad Burke. The committee's composition reflects the Met Gala's expanding definition of influence, incorporating voices from disability advocacy, sports, and contemporary art. Notable absences or inclusions — such as Lisa of BLACKPINK and model Alex Consani — sparked conversation about the event's evolving guest list.

A New Era for the Costume Institute and the Met Gala's Cultural Role

The move to the Condé M. Nast Galleries marks a permanent upgrade for the Costume Institute, which had operated from basement-level spaces. The new venue allows for larger, more ambitious exhibitions and cements the gala's role as a bridge between fashion, art, and philanthropy. As the 2026 Met Gala concluded, the question 'Is fashion art?' — posed by the dress code — lingered. The evening's displays of creativity and the record-breaking funds raised suggest that the answer, at least for one night, was a resounding yes.

The bottom line

• The 2026 Met Gala raised a record $31 million for the Costume Institute, funding its new permanent galleries.
• All-female co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour led the event.
• The 'Fashion Is Art' dress code yielded sculptural, art-inspired red carpet looks.
• The 'Costume Art' exhibition opens May 10 in the 12,000-square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries, featuring 400 objects across 5,000 years.
• Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos served as honorary chairs, with their foundation as lead sponsor.
• The no-phone policy remained in effect inside the museum, preserving the event's exclusivity.