Met Gala 2026 Declares Fashion Is Art as Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams Co-Chair

Key facts

• The 2026 Met Gala is co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams.
• The exhibition Costume Art runs from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
• The new Condé M. Nast Galleries span almost 12,000 square feet.
• The dress code is Fashion is Art, with sub-themes including the classical body, anatomical body, and nude body.
• Host committee co-chairs include Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz.
• Celebrities spotted include Hunter Schafer (Klimt-inspired), Beyoncé (skeletal gown), Madonna (ship headpiece), and Heidi Klum (marble statue).
• The red carpet features a mossy, cream-colored brick road under Wisteria blossoms.

A Night Where Fashion Ascends to Fine Art

The 2026 Met Gala has arrived, and the world’s biggest stars are gathering at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for fashion’s most anticipated evening. This year’s theme, Costume Art, elevates fashion to the same pedestal as fine art, a declaration reinforced by the evening’s dress code: Fashion is Art. From May 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027, the museum’s brand-new Condé M. Nast Galleries—spanning nearly 12,000 square feet—will display hundreds of pieces that center the dressed body, paired with thematically relevant fashions. The gala serves as the exhibition’s glittering launch.

Co-Chairs and Host Committee Set the Tone

The evening is co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, three icons spanning music, film, and sports. They are joined by host committee co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz, as well as a roster of celebrities including Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Alex Consani, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Lisa, Teyana Taylor, Lauren Wasser, A’ja Wilson, and Yseult. These figures are expected to interpret the dress code in wildly divergent ways, turning the red carpet into a living gallery.

Red Carpet as Canvas: From Klimt to Skeletons

The red carpet itself is a work of art: a mossy, cream-colored brick road set beneath a canopy of Wisteria blossoms. Attendees have embraced the Fashion is Art directive with literal and abstract interpretations. Hunter Schafer channeled Gustav Klimt, while Beyoncé wore a skeletal gown that referenced the anatomical body sub-theme. Madonna arrived with a ship on her head, and Heidi Klum appeared as a marble statue, embodying the classical body. Other notable looks included black, beige, and metallic ensembles from Venus Williams, Rihanna, Cher, Margot Robbie, and Charli XCX.

Exhibition Sub-Sections Guide Artistic Expression

The Costume Art exhibition is divided into sub-sections that offer thematic guidance: the classical body, the anatomical body, and the nude body. Many guests are expected to explore Hellenistic drapery for the classical theme, while others may focus on anatomical details or the ongoing cultural fascination with naked dressing. The dress code leaves ample room for imagination, but these sub-themes provide a framework for both the exhibition and the evening’s attire.

A Live Chronicle of Fashion’s Biggest Night

The Met Gala is being covered live with a by-the-minute blog, tracking every arrival and look. The event is not only a fundraiser for the Costume Institute but also a barometer of contemporary fashion and celebrity culture. As the night unfolds, the red carpet will continue to deliver surprises, reinforcing the message that fashion, like art, is a medium for expression and provocation.

The bottom line

• The 2026 Met Gala’s theme Costume Art and dress code Fashion is Art explicitly equate fashion with fine art.
• Co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams lead a host committee that includes Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz.
• The exhibition runs for eight months in the new 12,000-square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries.
• Red carpet looks ranged from Klimt-inspired (Hunter Schafer) to skeletal (Beyoncé) to sculptural (Heidi Klum as a marble statue).
• Sub-themes—classical, anatomical, and nude body—provided conceptual anchors for attendees.