Met Gala has become synonymous with high fashion and couture. In 2026, India showed up with mangoes, sculptural designs, and more.

What is the Met Gala? 

The Met Gala is an annual high-profile fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute held on the first Monday of May. It is a benefit gala that raises money for the museum. In 2026, it raised a record $42 million, up from $31 million in 2025. 

The Met Gala was launched in 1948 as a midnight dinner for the elite, hosted by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert. In 1972, the editor of Vogue, Diana Vreeland, took over as consultant. She moved the party into the Met itself and started inviting celebrities like Cher and Jack Kennedy. Ms.Vreeland also introduced themes to the event. In 1995, Anna Wintour took the chair and the event became a global spectacle of the creme-de-la creme of society.

How much does it cost to enter the Met Gala?

In 2026, a single ticket to enter the event cost $100,000(approximately ₹95 lakh). 

A table for the event starts at $350,000 (approximately ₹3.2 crore). These are typically purchased by fashion houses of major brands such as Amazon or Louis Vuitton, who then invite celebrities to sit with them. In these cases, the celebrities often attend for free as guests of the brand.  Buying a ticket does not guarantee entry. Every guest must be personally vetted and approved by Ms Wintour.

What happens to the collected money? 

All proceeds from these ticket and table sales go directly towards funding the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The Costume Institute is the only department at the Met that must fund itself. The money covers exhibition costs. cleaning and repairing old garments, salaries of curators, researchers, and archivists. A portion of the money also goes to buying historical fashion pieces at auction.

Met Gala 2026 theme and dress code 

The theme and dress code for the Met Gala are decided by Ms Wintour and the co-chairs she selects. Celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Beyonce and Lewis Hamilton have famously sat on the deciding table.

The theme represents the changes and evolution of the fashion industries. Some of the most noteworthy themes include 2018’s ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination’ which saw Rihanna arriving in a full, jewel-encrusted Pope hat.

The 2019 theme, ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’ saw Jared Leto carrying a prosthetic replica of his own head.

The theme for 2026 was ‘Costume Art,’ signifying the use of the body as a subject for art, with famous paintings such as Raja Ravi Varma’s ‘Hamasa Damayanti’ incorporated into the costumes.

It also featured the exhibition of ‘overlooked bodies’, which explicitly celebrated bodies such as pregnant and ageing bodies.

Why are there protests at the Met Gala? 

The Met Gala often sees protests happening. In 2026, it saw protests against Amazon and Jeff Bezos’s involvement in the event. Layoffs, poor working conditions, and the rise of billionaires were heavily debated.

A parallel exhibition to the Met Gala was also held, in which protestors dressed up as billionaires.

Indian connect

Indian designers also frequently exhibit fashion from the country. In 2026, celebrities like Karan Johar, Isha Ambani, and Natasha Poonawalla wore high couture based on the country’s rich fashion history. The key designers include Manish Malhotra, Gaurav Gupta, Sabhyasachi, Prabal Gurung and Mayyur Girotra.

How to spot fake AI look: Quick verification checklist

Met Gala AI fakes of popular celebrities such as Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga frequently go viral. AI-generated fakes lack structural integrity, with Met Gala couture jewellery appearing to be fused with the body. Authentic Met Gala photography usually features a specific backdrop, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s grand staircase. AI fakes often place celebrities in generic museum halls that don’t match the year’s theme.