Met Gala 2026 Theme Revealed

The countdown to fashion’s biggest night has officially begun.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Costume Institute have revealed the theme for the 2026 Met Gala and its accompanying exhibit: “Costume Art.” This marks the first time these two parts of the museum have collaborated on a joint project.

The 2026 exhibit will celebrate the opening of the Met Museum’s new 12,000-square-foot wing, the Condé M. Nast Galleries. The exhibit will uniquely display some of the museum’s most treasured artworks from different eras alongside both historical and contemporary fashion from the Costume Institute.

According to curator Andrew Bolton, this is a significant event for the Costume Institute. He told Vogue that it will not only change the department itself but also have a broader impact on the fashion world, as it marks the first time The Met, a major art museum, is giving fashion such a prominent platform.

Bolton highlighted that the exhibit will primarily focus on the clothing itself. He believes that fashion is the one thing that unites all the different parts of the museum and every gallery within it.

He explained that a central idea runs through the entire museum, and that was the original inspiration for the exhibition: the way we dress and present ourselves is the main focus in every part of it. Even when the museum displays nude figures, they aren’t simply ‘naked’ – they always represent cultural beliefs and concepts.

As for how the theme might influence the Gala’s 2026 dress code?

According to curator Andrew Bolton, the “Costume Art” exhibit explores the close relationship between clothing and the human body. The exhibit aims to re-center discussions of fashion and art around the body itself, celebrating it rather than minimizing it, ultimately demonstrating fashion’s potential as an art form.

The exhibit aims to immerse visitors in the artwork by using mirrored heads on the mannequins, effectively placing viewers within the display itself.

Bolton explained the artistic choice of using mirrors to show faces, saying it’s meant to encourage viewers to see themselves in the subjects they’re observing. This is intended to promote both understanding of others’ experiences and self-reflection, ultimately fostering empathy and compassion.

Honestly, I was completely captivated when he said the exhibit wouldn’t just show art, but actually question everything we think beauty is. He promised it would break all the rules and give us so many different ways to see what’s beautiful – and I’m already obsessed with that idea!

Although the official dress code for the 2026 Met Gala (held the first Monday in May) hasn’t been revealed yet, it’s expected to be quite different from the 2025 theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which had a dress code of “Tailored for You.”

For a look back at how the celebrity attendees interpreted the 2025 theme and dress code, read on.