Met Gala 2026 is shaping up to be as dramatic off the carpet as it is on it, with major names confirmed, surprising absences, and growing controversy surrounding this year’s event. With Anna Wintour, Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams leading as co-chairs, the Met Gala is once again poised to deliver headline-making fashion moments. But this year, the conversation isn’t just about couture.
Amazon’s reported involvement has sparked backlash, with activist group “Everyone Hates Elon” plastering New York City with “Boycott the Bezos Met Ball” messaging, and social media speculation suggesting some celebrities could face criticism simply for attending.
As buzz builds, several high-profile names are notably absent, including Zendaya, who has been a Met Gala staple for years. After seven consecutive appearances, Zendaya is reportedly sitting out this year. While some have questioned whether the decision is politically motivated, others point to her packed schedule, with multiple film projects releasing in 2026.
Lady Gaga has also yet to appear on any confirmed guest lists, adding to the speculation around who will, and won’t, show up. Meanwhile, some A-listers have long skipped the event altogether, including Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, and Dwayne Johnson.
Meryl Streep’s Absence Raises Eyebrows
One of the most talked-about no-shows is Meryl Streep, who has never attended the Met Gala and may have passed on another invitation this year. The Oscar-winning actress, who shares a well-known friendship with Wintour, was reportedly invited to co-chair in the past and may have received another offer for 2026. However, speculation suggests Streep declined, with some pointing to her political views and possible opposition to Bezos’ involvement as a factor, though nothing has been confirmed.
Despite the controversy, fashion will still take center stage. Brand partnerships are expected to heavily influence red carpet looks, with Kidman aligned with Chanel, Zoë Kravitz tied to Saint Laurent, and Anne Hathaway representing Prada. With Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello serving as one of the event’s hosts, insiders expect the brand to dominate the carpet more than ever this year.
Dress Code Revealed: ‘Fashion Is Art’ Takes Center Stage
This year’s Met Gala 2026 isn’t just about showing up, it’s about making a statement. The official dress code, “Fashion Is Art,” ties directly into the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Costume Art,” encouraging attendees to blur the lines between fashion and fine art. Expect bold, conceptual looks that feel more like museum pieces than traditional red carpet gowns.
Curated by Andrew Bolton, the head curator in charge of the department, the theme is likely to inspire some of the most theatrical and talked-about fashion moments in recent years. “I wanted to focus on the centrality of the dressed body within the Museum, connecting artistic representations of the body with fashion as an embodied art form,” Bolton said.
“Rather than prioritizing fashion’s visuality, which often comes at the expense of the corporeal, ‘Costume Art’ privileges its materiality and the indivisible connection between our bodies and the clothes we wear,” he added. “The opening of the new Galleries will mark a pivotal moment for the department, one that acknowledges the critical role that fashion plays not only within art history but also within contemporary culture.”
‘Costume Art’ Exhibit Will Pair Fashion With Centuries Of Art
The Met Gala 2026 theme goes far beyond the red carpet, with the accompanying “Costume Art” exhibit offering a deeper, more conceptual look at fashion’s place in history. The exhibition will feature nearly 400 objects from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collections, pairing garments with paintings, sculptures, and other works spanning centuries.
Rather than organizing the display chronologically, the exhibit will be divided into categories centered around different interpretations of the body, including the naked body, the classical body, the pregnant body, the aging body, the anatomical body, and the mortal body.
What Time It Starts And When Stars Hit The Carpet
Mark your calendars, the Met Gala takes place on Monday, May 4, with arrivals kicking off early in the evening. Guests are expected to begin walking the iconic steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art around 5:30 p.m. ET, with full red carpet coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
That’s when the biggest names in fashion, film, music, and sports will make their grand entrances, and where the internet will inevitably crown its best (and worst) dressed of the night.