The day of the Met Gala 2024, aka the red carpet Olympics for the fashionable and the famous, is here. For you, who'll likely be tuning in from the comfort of your couch in your favorite well-worn sweatpants, it's a welcome chance to play fashion critic for the evening.
Following last year's Met Gala red carpet dedicated to the late Karl Lagerfeld, this year's dress code is "The Garden of Time." The evening's red carpet theme ties into the Metropolitan Museum of Art's spring exhibit, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," which opens to the public on May 10 and features relics from fashion history, including archival pieces from Schiaparelli, Dior, and Saint Laurent.
You likely still have more burning questions about this year's Met Gala: Is Beyoncé attending? On the fashion front, what can you expect to see on the red carpet? Who will top Jared Leto's Choupette cat costume from last year? And how can you tune in to see the action?
Ahead, Marie Claire breaks down everything you need to know before this year's ball. Keep scrolling for details on which celebrities are attending, the origin of this year's theme, and a few Met Gala 2024 fashion predictions.
When Is the Met Gala 2024?
The Met Gala 2024 will be held on May 6, 2024, at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The red carpet is slated for 6:00 p.m. EST, but you might see eager attendees arriving as early as 5:O0 p.m. EST.
How to Watch the Met Gala 2024?
There are several different options for watching the 2024 Met Gala. Starting as early as 5:00 p.m. EST, you can watch the night's red carpet by streaming the event live on Vogue.com and across its social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you prefer to watch the red carpet arrivals on TV, you can tune into Live From E! on the E! network.
What Is the Met Gala 2024 Theme?
The Met Gala 2024 correlates with the Costume Institute's upcoming spring exhibition, "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," which opens to the public on May 10 and lasts until September 2, 2024. The showing will include approximately 250 garments and accessories spanning over four centuries, including archival items by Schiaparelli, Dior, Givenchy, and Saint Laurent.
The collection, displayed in the center of the venue, will hold 15 historically significant and rare garments that are far too delicate ever to be worn again—including a 17th-century Elizabethan bodice and a silk satin dress by the couturier Charles Frederick Worth dating back to 1887. These unique items are the "sleeping beauties" for which the exhibit is named after.
Sponsored by TikTok and Loewe, the exhibition will also include immersive sensory activations that play with scents, sounds, textures, and motions. Guests will smell the fragrance of flowers that once adorned headwear, feel the intricate, hand-stitched embroidery of garments, and experience theatrical illusions that take them back in time. In a press statement, Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute, said the exhibit aims to "reconnect with the works on display as they were originally intended—with vibrancy, with dynamism, and ultimately with life."
What Is the Met Gala 2024 Dress Code?
The Met Gala 2024 dress code is "The Garden of Time," honoring the exhibit's homage to historical fashion. The concept is derived from the title of a 1962 short story by J.G. Ballard, a romantic yet dystopian tale with symbolism relating to fleeting beauty and the uncontrollable passage of time.
On the fashion front, this year's Met Gala dress code lends itself to a literal interpretation of botanical concepts. Watch out for 3-D rosettes, garden-fresh prints, and flora and fauna motifs. Alternatively, looks that explore the concept of time are expected to be popular on this year's red carpet, either abstractly or via quirky on-the-nose interpretations, like clock graphics and watches.
Who Is Hosting the Met Gala 2024?
Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth are the co-chairs of the 2024 Met Gala. Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of Loewe, and Shou Chew, Chief Executive Officer of TikTok, will also serve as honorary chairs.
Who Is Attending the Met Gala 2024?
Praise the fashion gods: Rihanna will be there! The singer recently confirmed she'll be on the museum's steps and hinted that her 2024 Met Gala outfit will be more simplistic than previous ensembles.
Aside from RiRi, the complete guest list remains a mystery, but previous galas can predict who will attend this year's event. You can safely wager that heavy-hitting showstoppers like Beyoncé, Blake Lively, the Kardashians, and the Jenners, who have worn some of the best Met Gala gowns of all time, will be in attendance.
Several fashion designers will likely walk the red carpet alongside their celebrity guests, too. At the Met Ball 2019, Brandon Maxwell famously assisted Lady Gaga during her iconic fashion night with a four-outfit change.
Will Taylor Swift Attend the Met Gala 2024?
Bad news for Swifties awaiting a 'Swelce' red carpet reveal: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will not attend the 2024 Met Gala. A source told Us Weekly that The Tortured Poets Department singer and footballer declined due to scheduling conflicts. Swift, who hasn't attended the event since she co-chaired in 2016, is scheduled to be in Paris for the "Eras Tour" three days after this year's gala.
Who Are the Red Carpet Hosts for the 2024 Met Gala?
Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie, television personality and actress La La Anthony, and model Ashley Graham will host Vogue’s Met Gala red carpet live stream. Following her viral gig as the publication's special red carpet correspondent, Emma Chamberlain will also return to interview gala attendees.
What Is the Met Gala?
Red carpet extravagance aside, the Met Gala is a black-tie benefit that fundraises for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute—a.k.a. the Anna Wintour Costume Center in honor of Vogue's editor-in-chief, who has been a co-chair of the gala since 1995. Tickets cost upwards of $30,000 a head, with tables ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. The extravagant evening attracts a prestigious guest list, from A-plus-plus-listers and fashion industry insiders to star athletes and award-winning actors.
