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For the most comprehensive livestream of Met Gala arrivals, A-lister interviews and expert commentary, viewers will want to tune into Live From E!: Met Gala 2026, a three-hour special beginning at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET on May 4, available on any TV streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV. E!’s 2026 Met Gala coverage will also stream live on Peacock (however the streamer does not offer a free trial).

Each year on the first Monday of May, The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fundraiser celebrates the opening of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. The 2026 exhibition, doubling as the evening’s theme, is “Costume Art,” which explores depictions of the dressed body throughout time and culture. To adhere to this evening’s theme, guests and celebrity stylists are tasked with interpreting the accompanying dress code: “Fashion is Art” — more on this below.

At a Glance: How to Watch 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet Arrivals Online

Where to Watch Met Gala 2026: Livestream Red Carpet Arrivals Online Free

While the Met Gala itself is notoriously private and therefore not filmed, at-home viewers can catch the lead-up to fashion’s biggest night via E!’s three-hour special event, Live From E!: Met Gala 2026, the most comprehensive livestream and in-depth analysis of Gala arrivals. This coverage kicks off on Monday, May 4, at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET on E!, which can be streamed live on any streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV. It will also livestream on Peacock (however the streamer does not offer a trial period).

Learn more about each option (and their free trials and new subscriber discounts) below.

Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.

While the streaming service doesn’t offer a free trial directly, deal-savvy streamers can enjoy free Peacock access through partner subscriptions, including Instacart+ and Walmart+, which both include Peacock Premium in their membership. Plus, since both Instacart+ and Walmart+ offer free trials — 14 days for Instacart+ and 30 days for Walmart+ — members can stream Peacock (and therefore, the 2026 Met Gala coverage) at no cost during the trial period. Learn more about Walmart+ streaming offers here and the best Peacock subscription deals here.

Met Gala 2026 Theme, Dress Code

The Met Gala theme and dress code go hand in hand, however they are not the same. The 2026 theme is “Costume Art,” same as the title of The Costume Institute’s 2026 spring exhibition. This year’s exhibition, which explores depictions of the dressed body throughout time and culture, is organized into 13 sections, or body types, some of which are pervasive in works across The Met (i.e. the “Naked Body” and the “Classical Body”), some of which have been traditionally overlooked (i.e. the “Pregnant Body” and the “Aging Body”) and some that are universal (i.e. the “Anatomical Body” and the “Mortal Body”). These categories seek to celebrate both the diversity and universality of bodily experiences.

The 2026 Met Gala dress code is “Fashion is Art,” emphasizing fashion as an art form and celebrating the endless depictions of the dressed body throughout art history. To adhere to the evening’s theme, guests and celebrity stylists are tasked with interpreting this dress code.

Met Gala 2026 Co-Chairs, Honorary Chairs, Host Committee

The 2026 Met Gala Co-Chairs are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, while Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos will serve as the evening’s Honorary Chairs, a decision that has received quite a bit of backlash.

Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz are co-chairs of the Met Gala’s Host Committee, with members including Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinéad Burke, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Consani, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Rebecca Hall, LISA, Chloe Malle, Aimee Mullins, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sherald, Sam Smith, Chase Sui Wonders, Teyana Taylor, Lauren Wasser, Anna Weyant, A’ja Wilson and Yseult.