Why the Met Gala Is on the First Monday in May

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Fashion’s biggest night is rapidly approaching. 

Get ready for the 2026 Met Gala on May 4th – the first Monday in May – when Hollywood’s most fashionable stars will arrive in stunning outfits! This year’s event will be co-hosted by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. Let’s take a look at why the Met Gala is always held on this specific date.

The Met Gala, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s yearly fundraiser for its Costume Institute, hasn’t always been held on the first Monday in May. While the gala has taken place since 1948, the tradition of holding it on that specific date only began 21 years ago.

The event was usually held in late April from 2001 to 2004, but the biggest change in its timing happened in 2000. Prior to the year 2000, the event was commonly held in late November or early December.

I remember it so clearly – everything changed back in 1999. The amazing Coco Chanel exhibit was canceled after Richard Martin, the Met’s chief curator, sadly passed away that November. The museum explained to The New York Times the next year that, unfortunately, it just wasn’t possible for the Costume Institute to put together a show in time for their regular schedule. It was a real disappointment for all of us who were looking forward to it.

After the original event was canceled, the organization decided to host an exhibition celebrating former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 2001. It ran from May 1st – a Tuesday – to July 29th, continuing the tradition of holding the event in the spring.

The institute didn’t begin holding its event on the first Monday in May until 2005, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted a celebration of Chanel.

Okay, so Met Gala Monday is everything to me, and it usually happens the first Monday in May, right? But things haven’t always gone as planned. I mean, they totally canceled it in 2002 after 9/11, which was heartbreaking, and then in 2021, because of COVID, they moved the whole thing to September! It just proves how much of a big deal it is that they still found a way to make it happen, even if it wasn’t on our usual date.

The 2026 Met Gala is embracing its tradition of extravagant costumes, with celebrities expected to deliver their most creative looks. This year’s theme, “Costume Art,” and dress code, “Fashion Is Art,” challenge attendees to see clothing as a form of artistic expression and the body as the designer’s medium.

According to Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute, fashion – or how people present themselves through clothing – is the unifying element across all departments and galleries in the museum. As he explained to Vogue, this idea of the ‘dressed body’ served as the starting point for the exhibition.

For a look into more Met Gala secrets, read on…

Getting into fashion’s most exclusive annual event doesn’t come cheap. A single ticket will set you back $30,000, and reserving a table costs a whopping $275,000.

Luckily, not everyone needs to buy a ticket to the Met Gala. Anna Wintour often invites promising new designers, and celebrities who are asked to wear a specific designer’s clothes usually don’t have to pay either.

Despite the high cost, people are still eager to buy it – there’s actually a waiting list!

Vintage store owner Cameron Silver, a frequent attendee of the event, told Page Six in 2017 that he knows people who are eager to attend, even if they don’t have tickets. They’re fully prepared with their outfits and ready to go if a last-minute seat opens up, sometimes days in advance.

The ideal guest list changes, but around 500 people is generally considered a comfortable size. While the Met Gala once hosted 800 guests – the most ever – that number felt too large.

In 2017, Sylvana Ward Durrett of Vogue told Fast Company that they aim to create a cozy and personal experience for attendees, so they’ve significantly reduced the event’s size over the last few years, cutting the guest list by around 200 to 300 people.

Although the event is known for being lavish and glamorous, the organizers aim for a feeling of exclusivity, limiting attendance to around 500 guests – a number Anna Wintour typically sets. As Ward Durrett explained in the documentary The First Monday in May, they want to maintain an intimate atmosphere, as that’s what draws people to the event.

Just getting invited doesn’t guarantee a celebrity can bring a guest – their partner needs a separate invitation too.

Planning for this major fashion event never stops, typically beginning the Tuesday after the first Monday in May. It’s a year-round effort involving around 100 people, including 10 who work on it full-time for Vogue magazine.

Ward Durrett, who was a director of special projects at Vogue at the time, described her preferred method as using a single, comprehensive to-do list. This list grew constantly as deadlines approached, and the team reviewed it daily, even if some items were repeated, to stay on track.

Her first priority was the tent. From there, she detailed everything needed for it. Creating this list helps her plan the entire event, ensuring nothing gets overlooked.

According to the late Andre Leon Talley, a former editor at Vogue, Anna Wintour pays extremely close attention to every single detail. In the documentary The First Monday in May, Talley explained that Wintour personally checks everything – from the tableware and lighting to the flowers and ushers’ outfits – often for months in advance.

She likes to keep everything about her outfit a secret, right up until the event. According to Plum Sykes, a contributing editor at Vogue, Anna Wintour doesn’t want anyone to know what she’s wearing or planning until she actually arrives on the red carpet, as she told The New York Post.

Planning seating for a wedding can be tricky, but imagine how much harder it is for the Met Gala! The team dedicates a lot of time to carefully arranging guests, making sure people who have things in common are seated together.

According to Ward Durrett in The First Monday in May, a surprising amount of effort goes into seating arrangements. They consider who sat together previously, at other events, and a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering is involved.

The seating chart for the event is always a work in progress, changing constantly as plans develop. Ward Durett shared with Vogue that she quickly realized Velcro was a much better choice than sticky notes for making adjustments. She explained that in the beginning, they used simple sticky notes which caused a lot of problems – things would fall off, names would get lost, and she’d be constantly rewriting everything.

Ward Durrett also suggests using color-coding for seating arrangements, ideally alternating between women and men. A surprising but important rule she follows is to never seat couples together. Her reasoning? These events are meant for networking and discovering what others are up to, so attendees shouldn’t spend the time simply with their partners. Sorry, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds!

Every event has those less-desirable tables – often stuck near the kitchen or bathrooms. The Met Gala is no different, and the designers’ seating arrangements are typically adjusted yearly.

Wintour was heavily involved in every detail, even scolding her team for attempting to downplay the H&M table in a scene from The First Monday in May. She famously said, “We shouldn’t hide this table, it’s really not fair.”

While not a high-end designer brand, H&M – a company that advertises in magazines like Vogue – and other affordable brands like Topshop and Zara are increasingly being seen at major fashion events. H&M made a splash in 2015 when Sarah Jessica Parker wore a custom dress designed for them.

High-profile events like these always put former couples and rivals in close proximity. We’ve seen it before – like when Selena Gomez, The Weeknd, and Bella Hadid all attended the same event. Organizers probably try to avoid awkward situations, such as seating Taylor Swift and Katy Perry together during their public disagreement. However, the success of the event as a whole is more important than preventing every possible bit of tension between guests.

As a longtime fan, I’ve always appreciated how the team strives to make every seat feel great – and honestly, they usually succeed! What I really respect, though, is that they understand you can’t make everyone happy. Ward Durrett put it perfectly: they focus on doing their best, and while some folks might still be disappointed, the team has a solid history of getting it right. When someone is unhappy, they don’t just ignore it – they make an effort to connect with that person the following year and make sure their expectations are realistic. It’s that dedication to improvement that keeps me coming back.

In a striking moment from the documentary First Monday in May, Ward Durrett openly indicated to Anna Wintour which guests he wished wouldn’t attend by attaching Velcro tabs next to their names on the seating chart.

Fashion critic Cathy Horn wrote in The New York Times in 2006 that John Lydon, formerly known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, was noticeably unhappy with his seat at an event. It was at the end of a long table and considered one of the worst spots. He was so upset that he left twice, angrily confronting museum staff.

He eventually took his seat.

On The Late Late Show in 2018, James Corden playfully challenged Anna Wintour to reveal any celebrity she’d permanently ban from the Met Gala.

She responded, “Donald Trump.” Both Donald and Melania Trump have gone to the Met Gala a number of times, but the last time they walked the famous steps was in 2012.

Former fashion mentor Tim Gunn claims he’s also been banned from the Met Gala. He says Anna Wintour blacklisted him after he shared a story with The Post that she didn’t like.

He described the situation as chaotic and wild when he spoke on TopMob’s Fashion Police in 2016, stating that it had been an ongoing conflict ever since.

Dinner will be served at the event. Stephen Colbert shared that guests previously had to wait for Anna Wintour to be seated before they could start eating.

And, like every other aspect, Wintour is heavily involved in the menu planning for each gala. 

According to a source at Vogue, Anna Wintour once prohibited certain foods from events because they could get stuck in guests’ teeth (like parsley), cause bad breath (too much garlic), or—most importantly—stain their clothes. This led to appetizers being specifically designed for easy, mess-free eating.

Anna Wintour generally likes the food at events to match the overall theme, but it doesn’t always happen.

As a long-time fan of Glorious Food, I always loved hearing stories from Sean Driscoll, the caterer who worked every Met Gala for over two decades – from 1995 to 2018! He once told me about the 2011 gala, themed around Alexander McQueen’s ‘Savage Beauty,’ and how serving lamb potpies caused quite a stir. Apparently, a lot of the guests weren’t thrilled with that particular dish and made all sorts of special requests instead!

People also care about how the food looks, and filmmaker Andrew Rossi, who directed The First Monday in May, was surprised by how much attention to detail went into it. He recalls attending a tasting with Anna Wintour and watching her research food presentations on her phone – a testament to her meticulous approach.

It’s unclear why Anna Wintour banned selfies and social media at the Met Gala in 2015 – no official reason was ever given. The decision remains a mystery, despite the event already being known for inspiring envy online.

A source at Vogue told Pret-a-Reporter that guests received a warning before the gala: phones couldn’t be used for taking pictures or posting on social media inside the event.

The magazine didn’t offer a statement about the report, but someone familiar with the situation told The Hollywood Reporter that it was “simply about keeping guests safe and ensuring they have a good time at the event.”

In the documentary The First Monday in May, Anna Wintour visibly disapproved of phone use at the Met Gala. A scene shows her learning that a male celebrity—whose identity was hidden on request—had changed his mind and decided to attend. She immediately asked Ward Durrett, “Could he please not be on his phone the whole time?”

Ward Durrett told The Post that Anna prefers classic, social gatherings. She enjoys dinner parties where guests actually talk to each other, and while they don’t constantly monitor everyone, they might politely nudge people if they’re being impolite.

Even though Anna Wintour doesn’t allow photos, celebrities have often ignored the rule. A well-known example is Kylie Jenner’s bathroom selfie taken at the 2017 Met Gala.

Attendees must be at least 18 years old to enter the event. This rule was confirmed by organizers after Maddie Ziegler shared that she couldn’t attend the 2018 Met Gala because she was only 15. She explained to The Hollywood Reporter, “I can’t go, because I’m not old enough!”

The event is now restricted to adults 18 and over, as explained by the organizer to THR, and this age limit began this year.

Before 2018, the Met Gala had seen some remarkably young attendees. Jaden and Willow Smith both attended in 2016, at ages 17 and 15, while Elle Fanning first appeared at just 13. Hailee Steinfeld also made her Met Gala debut at 14, back in 2011.

It looks like there’s an exception for younger celebrities: if their parents are going to the event, they can come too.

Anna Wintour has the final decision on what everyone wears to the Met Gala, but attendees don’t technically need her approval – though she does know what everyone is wearing when they arrive on the red carpet.

According to Andre Leon Talley in The First Monday in May, it’s as if each celebrity was specifically assigned a gown by a designer. Riccardo Tisci, formerly of Givenchy, who dressed Beyoncé and Madonna for the 2016 Met Gala, explained that each designer selects someone who embodies their artistic vision.

Generally, a celebrity’s outfit at an event is chosen by the designer who asked them to attend.

The annual gala always has a theme—for example, it was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” in 2024 and “Camp: Notes on Fashion” in 2019—but guests and designers have a lot of freedom in how they interpret it. There aren’t any hard and fast rules.

So, how does the Met Gala choose its yearly theme? It’s a process that begins more than a year in advance. Andrew Bolton, the dedicated curator of The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, selects a topic that feels current and important to culture.

He told Vogue that he focuses on topics that feel current and reflect a changing culture. They aim for a diverse range of exhibitions, balancing shows that explore historical and contemporary themes, and those dedicated to individual designers. The goal is to keep things interesting with a variety of subjects.

Once he’s found a suitable option, he submits it to the museum director for approval. Then, Anna Wintour gives her final approval about a year in advance.

The curator, a highly respected figure in the British art world, said it would be very challenging to manage without her colleague’s help. Anna is responsible for finding sponsors for the exhibition, and she’s good at it. The curator admitted that sometimes their own ideas aren’t the most attractive to potential funders, especially if they’re not mainstream or widely popular.

After walking the red carpet and climbing the famous steps, guests are greeted by Anna Wintour and the event’s hosts—this year including Bad Bunny, Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth, and Jennifer Lopez—in a receiving line. This often takes a while, with lots of cheek kisses and polite conversation.

Guests then get a private viewing of the Costume Institute’s exhibition before the general public arrives. Afterwards, they can enjoy a reception with food, socializing, music, and entertainment, including performances by stars like Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

When it comes to the biggest stars at the Met Gala, a major source of planning stress is always the entertainment.

As shown in the documentary The First Monday in May, Ward Durrett struggled to afford Rihanna’s fee for the annual gala.

Rihanna’s fee is roughly double what we’ve paid any performer in the past,” she explained, after speaking with someone on her team. “They’re firm on the price and won’t negotiate it lower.”

Eventually, Wintour was called to step in and figure out the situation.

In addition to the security provided by the Museum for the red carpet, celebrities can also bring their personal security teams.

The jewels are definitely the most heavily secured items at the Met Gala. In past years, celebrities like Lively have worn over $3.5 million worth of jewelry, and Karlie Kloss once sported $2.5 million in Forevermark diamonds for the event.

Because the diamonds are extremely valuable, Forevermark keeps the details of its security process confidential. However, a security guard is always present until the diamonds are safely back with their owner, and they also use measures like RFID trackers and video surveillance, according to a Forevermark representative who spoke with TopMob News.

So yes, Ocean’s 8 definitely got that aspect of the Met Gala right.

Because most Met Gala dresses are either made specifically for the event or borrowed from designers’ collections, celebrities usually don’t get to keep them. Typically, the gowns are returned to the design house and added to their archives.

In 2018, Balmain’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing, partnered with Bono’s RED organization to auction off one-of-a-kind clothing items worn by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, and Trevor Noah. All the money raised went to the Global Fund, a foundation dedicated to fighting disease.

At the 2021 event, guests had to wear masks and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. This led rapper Nicki Minaj to decide against attending.

Nicki Minaj shared on Twitter that she’s being encouraged to get vaccinated so she can attend the Met Gala, but she won’t get the vaccine just for that reason. She’s currently doing her own research on the vaccine and will get it when she feels comfortable. She also reminded her fans to stay safe by wearing well-fitted masks with secure head and face straps, not loose-fitting ones.

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2026-05-04 07:19