After a long, unpredictable winter, the First Monday of May is finally here. The 2026 Met Gala is about to start, and the fashion world is buzzing with anticipation for the biggest red carpet of the year. As global A-listers arrive to the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in N.Y.C., it's time for pop-culture enthusiasts to learn how to follow along at home.
This year's fundraising benefit for The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute is inspired by the Met's new permanent exhibition "Costume Art." To honor the exhibit's aim of "[putting] the body back into discussions about art and fashion," the dress code "Fashion is Art" calls for guests and designers to "consider the many ways that designers use the body as their blank canvas." We're prepared to be surprised, as the abstract theme can bring interpretations ranging from vintage pulls to opulent naked dresses to sculptural marvels.
