Costume Art Takes Over the Met Gala

It’s time to start the countdown for fashion’s biggest night of the year. The Met Gala theme has been announced, along with who is hosting. The theme for the night is costume art.

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Celebrate fashion as an art form this spring at The Met! Opening May 10, 2026, “Costume Art” is The Costume Institute’s annual exhibition. Focusing primarily on Western art from prehistory to the present, the show will explore artistic representations of the dressed body, pairing fashions and artworks from the Museum’s vast collection to highlight the inherent relationship between clothing and the body. “Costume Art” is the inaugural exhibition in a new, nearly 12,000-square-foot suite of galleries adjacent to the Great Hall, which will display the department’s annual spring show and mark a new chapter for the Museum. The Met Gala fundraiser will celebrate the opening of “Costume Art” on Monday, May 4, 2026. #MetCostumeArt

♬ original sound – The Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) has said that the theme will “examine the centrality of the dressed body, juxtaposing objects from across the museum’s vast collection with historical and contemporary garments from The Costume Institute.”

This exhibition is the first show in the new galleries that The Met has. It will be viewable at The Met 5th Ave. from May 10, 2026, through January 10, 2027.

Who Is Hosting

A list of celebrities involved in this year’s “Costume Art” exhibition includes. Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour will chair The Costume Institute benefit on Monday, May 4.

Co-Chairs and Members

Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz will co-chair the gala host committee, with members that include Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Consani, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, LISA, Chloe Malle, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Lauren Wasser, Anna Weyant, A’ja Wilson, and Yseult.

@metmuseum

As a professional ballerina, Misty Copeland’s (@mistycopeland) groundbreaking accomplishments and inspiring career have illustrated the powerful relationship between art, clothing, and the body. Misty joined us this morning to announce the spring 2026 Costume Institute exhibition, “Costume Art,” which opens to the public on May 10, 2026. The show will examine concepts of the dressed body across art and fashion history, exploring how representations of the body are shaped by garments, and likewise, garments are inspired by the body. #MetCostumeArt

♬ original sound – The Met – The Met

Along with that, The Met has said the theme will focus “Primarily on Western art from prehistory to present… These comparisons will highlight the inextricable relationship between clothing and the body and reveal that artistic representations of the body are shaped by the garments that clothe them and that the garments, in turn, are shaped by the bodies which they clothe.”

We think that this theme is very adventurous and will test the creativity of many designers. It could be a possible way to spread the message of body positivity. As they have said, is that clothes and body shapes go hand in hand. This phrase suggests that art is not one-size-fits-all. It celebrates the body and fashion as a true art form.

With the four different co-chairs being from different worlds, it can involve inclusion and what makes each body special. Alternatively, through the neutrality of the body, pregnancy, the neutrality of the body, or just the natural essence of aging.

The theme and the event’s dress code are two separate things. A future announcement will clarify what to expect. It is all about creativity. We find the Met Gala’s best part to be the surprise of each outfit.

We can’t wait to cover the Met Gala looks and delve into each artistic form. Along with the artists that are behind the presentation we get to see.