The Met Gala first started in 1948 and is an exclusive annual fundraising event held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is an invite-only event targeted at A-list celebrities, top-tier fashion designers, cultural icons, and prominent figures. While it is an invite-only event, invitees must pay around $100,000 for an individual ticket, while tables start at $350,000. Though the price is steep, celebrities typically do not pay out-of-pocket; instead, brands typically invite them to attend wearing their designs.
The Met Gala typically takes place on the first Monday of May, with it landing on May 4 this year. Kaylee Medina (10) says, “I really enjoy watching The Met each year and seeing what celebrities do or don’t attend.” Each year, the Met Gala has a unique theme, this year’s being “Costume Art,” with the official dress code for all attendees being “Fashion Is Art.” Though it is called the dress code, in reality, it is more of a suggestion, as most attendees do not follow it.
Approximately 400 guests attended the 2026 Met Gala, including notable celebrities such as Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, SZA, and more. As always, some celebrities embraced the theme more than others. Angeline Han (10) describes her interest in fashion at The Met, stating, “I always find it so interesting to see how celebrities interpret the theme and who actually dresses by it.” Some of the most memorable looks from the Met Gala include Beyoncé’s bejeweled skeleton gown, Chase Infiniti’s Venus de Milo-inspired dress, and Teyana Taylor’s custom silver chainmail gown. The Met Gala is not solely about fashion, but interpretation.
In addition to the noteworthy looks, the Met Gala always serves iconic, viral moments for the public to see. The Met Gala tends to spark backlash due to the extreme wealth inequality that becomes evident when events like these roll around. Aside from this, the public is always excited to hear about the behind-the-scenes drama that occurs at such historic events. Though no major pop culture moments occurred this year, aside from general tensions from celebrities, some noticed a disagreement between Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, as well as Sarah Paulson wearing a symbolic “money blindfold.”
Gossip and drama aside, the Met Gala may seem like a fashion-centered event, but it is actually a fundraiser! Its actual purpose is to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum. Founded in April of 1870, the museum opened its doors on February 20, 1972, containing 175 pieces. This museum has a permanent collection of approximately 1.5 million objects. As you can see, the museum has grown significantly, and it represents over 5,000 years of human creativity and expression from all cultures and time periods.
The Met Gala has been ongoing for nearly 80 years, and despite criticism, it remains culturally significant. It sets fashion trends, sparks debates over art and identity, and blurs the line between celebrity culture and high fashion. At the end of the day, the Met Gala is not just about who wore what, but the significance behind what everyone wore, and the money raised by the prestigious event.
