The 2026 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 4, 2026. The theme is ‘Costume Art.’ This marks Andrew Bolton’s first theme without a subtitle.
The dress code for the event is ‘Fashion Is Art.’ The exhibition will feature nearly 12,000 square feet of the Condé M. Nast Galleries. It will include paintings, sculptures, and garments from the Costume Institute.
This theme was announced by Vogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art on November 17, 2025. It draws inspiration from the centrality of the dressed body in the museum’s collection.
Bolton stated, “What connects every curatorial department and what connects every single gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body.” He added that removing the subtitle felt like “taking off a corset.” This shift signifies a bold new direction for the event.
Key details about the exhibition:
- The exhibition will cover nearly 12,000 square feet.
- It will showcase various forms of art including garments and sculptures.
- The focus on ‘Costume Art’ emphasizes fashion’s acceptance as an art form.
The Met Gala serves as an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It is widely regarded as fashion’s biggest night. The excitement around this year’s theme reflects ongoing evolution within the fashion industry.