Every year, the Met Gala brings together titans of style, entertainment, sport, and culture to raise money for the Costume Institute at New York’s Metropolitan Musuem of Art… but most know it as one of the most glamorous nights in fashion.
At the heart of this star-studded spectacle are the co-chairs: celebrated figures chosen to headline and shape the event. For the 2026 Met Gala, they’re a blend of global icons from music, film, sport, and the fashion world, promising a blockbuster evening on Monday, May 4, 2026.
So who are this year’s co-chairs and what exactly does being a co-chair mean?
Who are this year’s Met Gala co-chairs?
In no particular order, the 2026 Met Gala co-chairs are:
- Global superstar Beyoncé who hasn’t attended the event in a decade (but was an honorary chair in 2013).
- Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman who previously co-chaired the event in 2003 and 2005.
- Legendary tennis champion Venus Williams who is following in her sister’s footsteps and stepping into the co-chair role for the first time, seven years after Serena’s time in a similar role.
- Vogue’s former editor-in-chief and the tradition bearer of the Met Gala, Anna Wintour.
It has also been announced that Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala Host Committee, with additional members including Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, Teyana Taylor, Gwendoline Christie, Paloma Elsesser, Alex Consani, Lena Dunham, and more.
What does a Met Gala co-chair do?
Being a Met Gala co-chair isn’t just about standing at the top of the red carpet and looking fabulous (though that is definitley involved), co-chairs are chosen to:
- Promote and represent the Met Gala in the lead-up to the event, helping generate buzz and excitement. If Queen Bee tells you to get hyped, you get hyped.
- Set the tone for the evening, often helping with creative direction tied to that year’s time. This year’s theme is “Costume Art.”
- Welcome guests at the iconic Met steps, acting as the faces of the event alongside Anna Wintour.
- Help refine the guest list, manage the theme’s interpretation, and decide on the overall cultural vibe of the night.
What is the theme: “Costume Art” all about?
At its core, the theme “Costume Art” is about exploring the deep connection between the clothes we wear and the body we live in. Think fashion as art that is alive. Does that make sense?
If you’re lost, don’t worry, here’s a simpler explanation. Most pieces of art hang on walls in musuems or stay standing in boxes- but not fashion. Clothes move, breathe and wrinkle just as we do, and that’s what this year’s Met Gala theme is all about.
Each celebrity and their designer will interpret the theme differently. Some may go full Renaissance painting come-to-life, others may become walking sculptures, optical illusions, or human-sized sketches.
The dramatic, the delicate, the unhinged- expect to see it all!
When was the first Met Gala?
The first Met Gala took place in 1948, but was very different from the event you see today. Originally a midnight dinner in autumn, not a full-blown red carpet event on the first Monday in May, the gala wasn’t even held at the Met!
The Met Gala, which was originally named “The Party of the Year” by event creator and PR guru Eleanor Lambert, was held in several spaces over the years. These other glamorous venues included Rockfeller Center’s Rainbow Room to the Waldorf Astoria, and the Medieval Sculpture Hall.
How much does a Met Gala ticket cost?
Tickets to the Met Gala are not cheap, nor are they available to the general public. Single tickets cost around $113,000 AUD for a single seat, with tables going for upwards of $527,000 AUD.
However, most attendees don’t have to pay as they’re invited by designers or brands who buy tables.
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