Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour are set to host the Met Gala next May, a star‑filled fundraiser that raised a record $31 million last year.
Met Gala Co‑Chairs Announced
The quartet brings a mix of music, tennis, film, and fashion to the iconic event. Beyoncé, who served as honorary chair in 2013, joins Venus Williams, who has never hosted before but follows her sister Serena’s co‑chair role from 2006. Nicole Kidman co‑chaired in 2003 and 2005, while Anna Wintour continues to oversee the annual gala.
Gala Host Committee
The museum unveiled a host committee chaired by designer Anthony Vaccarello and filmmaker Zoë Kravitz. The committee includes:
- Musicians Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, LISA, Sam Smith, Yseult
- Dancer Misty Copeland
- Actors Teyana Taylor, Elizabeth Debicki, Gwendoline Christie, Lena Dunham
- Basketball player A’ja Wilson
- Models Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser, Lauren Wasser
- Vogue editor Chloe Malle
- Artist Anna Weyant
Theme and Dress Code
The dress code for the May 4 gala has not yet been announced, but it will align with the theme of “Costume Art,” the Institute’s upcoming spring exhibit. The theme was revealed last month as the focus for the 2026 exhibit.
Costume Art Exhibit Overview
The exhibit celebrates “the dressed body” as it appears in art through the centuries. It pairs garments with objects from across the museum to show how fashion has intertwined with various art forms. The collection will draw from paintings, sculpture, drawings, and more.
Quote from Max Hollein
Max Hollein, the museum’s CEO and director, said in an interview last month, “It’s a show that can really live in fascinating ways at the museum and can pull from all different areas of our collection — paintings, sculpture, drawings.”
Exhibit Themes and Organization
Curator Andrew Bolton will organize the show thematically by body type. Themes include “Naked Body,” “Classical Body,” as well as less traditional ones such as “Pregnant Body” and “Aging Body.”
New Gallery Space and Conde M. Nast Galleries
“Costume Art” will occupy a new 12,000‑square‑foot space (1,115 square meters) just off the Great Hall. The new Conde M. Nast galleries, created from the former museum retail store, will house all spring Costume Institute exhibits and other shows from different parts of the museum. Bolton said the gallery space “will mark a pivotal moment for the department, one that acknowledges the critical role fashion plays not only within art history but also within contemporary culture.”
Venus Williams Tennis Return
Venus Williams returned to competition in July at age 45 after nearly one and a half years away from the tour, becoming the oldest player to play singles at the U.S. Open since 1981. Serena Williams recently dismissed speculation that she might be preparing to return to tennis.
Exhibit Dates
“Costume Art” opens to the public on May 10, 2026, and will run until January 10, 2027.
Key Takeaways
- Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour will co‑chair the 2025 Met Gala.
- The gala’s dress code will complement the “Costume Art” spring exhibit.
- The exhibit opens May 10, 2026, in a new 12,000‑sq‑ft space and runs until January 10, 2027.
The Met Gala’s new leadership and the upcoming exhibit signal a renewed focus on fashion’s place within the museum’s broader cultural narrative, promising a spectacular event for the fashion and art worlds alike.
