As a tennis icon, Venus Williams is always serving aces on the court. But tonight, she serves as a co-chair of the Met Gala 2026, alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour.

“Co-chairing the Met Gala has been such an incredible honor, and honestly, a moment I’m still trying to fully take in,” Venus tells Vogue on the morning of the event. “When I got the call, I could hardly believe it. Fashion has always been a huge part of how I express myself, both on and off the court, so being part of an event that celebrates the intersection of art, culture, and identity feels really full circle for me.”

And that’s not the only reason this is a special night for Venus. While she made her Met Gala debut in 2008 and has been a regular guest in recent years, tonight is her first time attending the Met Gala red carpet with her husband, the actor, producer, and model Andrea Preti, whom she married last year.

For the occasion, Venus is wearing a Swarovski crystal mesh gown inspired by Robert Pruitt’s Venus Williams, Double Portrait (2022), a portrait of her commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. Styled by Ron Burton, she completes her sparkling Swarovski dress and jewelry look with makeup by Karina Milan, hair by Jawara, and nails by Gina Edwards. Her necklace is a recreation of the Wimbledon-plate-inspired necklace seen in the painting. A deeply personal work for Venus, the portrait incorporates symbols of her family, career, historic fight for equal pay in tennis, and Black tennis champions who came before her.

“It reflects not just my journey, but the legacy of those who came before me—especially pioneers like Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, who paved the way. It felt like a personal way to connect with ‘Costume Art,’ using fashion to tell a story about legacy, progress, and honoring those who made it possible.”

Reflecting on what it felt like to attend her first Met almost 20 years ago, Venus says: “Walking up the Met steps for my first Met Gala was all so exciting and overwhelming in the best way. I was in my early twenties at the time, and I remember being struck by the scale of The Met and attending alongside André Leon Talley—there was no better partner. I’ve always loved art, and I’ve been fortunate enough to build my own collection over the years, so the Met Museum, and especially the Met Gala, is a really special place where I get to see both my love for fashion and art come together in such a celebratory and special way.”

Met Gala 2026: See Every Celebrity Arrival, Read the Latest Stories, and Get Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access Here