Met Gala 2026: Beyoncé’s Skeletal Gown, Madonna’s Ship Hat and a Bezos-Funded Night

Key facts

• The 2026 Met Gala took place on Monday, May 4, in New York City.
• Event chairs included Nicole Kidman, Beyoncé, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour.
• The dress code was 'Fashion is Art'.
• New honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos funded the event, sparking controversy.
• The red carpet was a mossy, cream-coloured brick road beneath a canopy of wisteria blossoms.
• Vogue broadcast the livestream exclusively on YouTube and TikTok.
• Hosts included Ashley Graham, La La Anthony, Cara Delevingne and Emma Chamberlain.

A Night of Art-Inspired Fashion and Controversial Funding

The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual gala unfolded on Monday evening under a flowering-Italian-garden–themed tent, with a red carpet designed as a mossy, cream-coloured brick road beneath wisteria blossoms. The event honoured the Costume Institute’s “Costume Art” exhibition, and the dress code—'Fashion is Art'—prompted a spectrum of interpretations from the night’s biggest stars. Yet the glittering spectacle was shadowed by controversy: the gala was funded by new honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, a decision that drew criticism given the couple’s prominence in debates over wealth and cultural influence.

Beyoncé, Madonna and Hunter Schafer Lead the Red Carpet

Beyoncé, one of the event chairs, wore a skeletal gown that focused on the body-as-art aspect of the theme. Hunter Schafer channelled Gustav Klimt in a look that directly referenced the painter’s work. Madonna arrived with a ship on her head, while Heidi Klum appeared as a marble statue, blurring the line between fashion and sculpture. Other notable attendees included Venus Williams, Rihanna, Cher, Margot Robbie and Charli XCX, many of whom opted for black, beige or metallic ensembles. The red carpet also saw a number of unusual, art-inspired looks that turned the entrance into a living museum.

Vogue’s Livestream and the Night’s Surprises

Vogue broadcast the gala livestream exclusively on Monday, May 4, across its digital platforms including YouTube and TikTok. The broadcast was hosted by Ashley Graham, La La Anthony and Cara Delevingne, with Emma Chamberlain reprising her role as Red Carpet Correspondent on Vogue’s social channels. Viewers could also follow Vogue’s official live blog for real-time reactions, and the network of partners included Full Day Productions, Feed the Animals, Dream Machine and director Micah Bickham. The night featured surprise performances and a parade of celebrity arrivals that kept audiences engaged long after the red carpet ended.

The Bezos Connection and the Costume Institute’s Exhibition

The gala honoured the Costume Institute’s “Costume Art” exhibition, with event chairs Nicole Kidman, Beyoncé, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour guiding the evening. The involvement of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs—and funders—added a layer of political and economic significance to the event. While the gala traditionally raises funds for the Costume Institute, the Bezos family’s role has sparked debate about the intersection of big tech wealth and cultural institutions. The controversy did not dampen the evening’s fashion spectacle, but it underscored the growing influence of private donors in the arts.

What Comes Next: The Exhibition and Ongoing Debates

The “Costume Art” exhibition will open to the public in the coming weeks, drawing on the themes and looks showcased on the red carpet. The gala’s success—measured in both celebrity attendance and online viewership—reinforces the Met’s position as a global arbiter of fashion. Yet the Bezos funding controversy is unlikely to fade quickly. As cultural institutions increasingly rely on wealthy donors, the line between patronage and influence grows thinner. The 2026 Met Gala may be remembered as much for its art-inspired fashion as for the questions it raised about who gets to shape the narrative of art and style.

The bottom line

• The 2026 Met Gala took place on May 4 in New York, with a 'Fashion is Art' dress code and a wisteria-canopied red carpet.
• Beyoncé, Madonna, Hunter Schafer and Heidi Klum delivered standout art-inspired looks.
• Vogue exclusively livestreamed the event on YouTube and TikTok, hosted by Ashley Graham, La La Anthony, Cara Delevingne and Emma Chamberlain.
• New honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos funded the gala, sparking controversy over wealth and cultural influence.
• The gala honored the Costume Institute’s 'Costume Art' exhibition, which will open to the public soon.