This year’s highly anticipated event in New York faces challenges not related to attendance, glamour, or budget but rather due to criticism, negative publicity, and calls for a boycott. The annual fashion show and fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, scheduled for May 4, will go ahead with its theme “Costume Art,” aiming to showcase fashion as a continuous element in art history.
The chosen dress code, “Fashion is Art,” offers flexibility for the attendees on the red carpet. Curator Andrew Bolton expressed his hope that the theme would eliminate the outdated debate on whether fashion should be considered part of the art world. He emphasized a shift in perspective by exploring art through the lens of fashion.
Last year, the event raised over $31 million US, and this year, with a new 1,115-square-meter venue, the 2026 Met Gala is set to unveil the Condé M. Nast Galleries, repurposed from the former museum retail store. The exhibition also introduces new mannequins, showcasing figures often overlooked in art history, including representations of diverse body types.
The star-studded gala will feature co-chairs like Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Beyoncé, the latter returning after a decade. Notable personalities on the host committee include designer Anthony Vaccarello, filmmaker Zoë Kravitz, and celebrities such as Sabrina Carpenter and Teyana Taylor.
However, the involvement of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs, providing significant funding for the event, has sparked controversy. Protests have emerged, criticizing the gala as a symbol of worker exploitation and association with contentious issues.
The gala’s extravagant nature, with individual tickets priced at $100,000 US, has drawn criticism for being out of touch with widening wealth inequality. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s decision not to attend this year, citing a focus on affordability, reflects a shift in the event’s cultural significance, especially as Anna Wintour, the iconic figure behind its transformation, approaches retirement.
As the gala faces various challenges, including changing social dynamics and financial considerations, the Costume Institute has been securing funds from Met Gala proceeds since 2016 to ensure its sustainability. Despite uncertainties, the 2026 ceremony is scheduled to proceed as planned.