Metropolitan Museum of Art Reveals 2026 Met Gala Concept

Collage: “Delphos” gown, Fortuny (Italian), Adèle Henriette Elisabeth Nigrin Fortuny and Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo, 1920s. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Frances J. Kiernan, 2005 (2005.328); Terracotta statuette of Nike, the embodiment of victory, late 5th century BCE. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1907 (07.286.23). Artwork by Julie Wolfe. (Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

Regarding annual recurring art exhibitions, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) hosts one that garners much excitement. Each spring, the museum presents a show that receives a boost from The Costume Institute Benefit, known as The Met Gala, an exhilarating event that consistently draws inspiration from the exhibition’s theme. To build anticipation for the show and gala in May 2026, The Met has recently revealed the title and concept: Costume Art.

Costume Art will leverage the dressed body as a method for exploring historical and modern garments from The Costume Institute. The emphasis will predominantly be on Western art, covering pre-history to contemporary times, and organized by “thematic body types” that illustrate how they have persisted through time and across cultures. This facilitates insightful comparisons; how were specific bodies perceived in different eras, and emphasizing how attire influences the body and vice versa. The two are fundamentally intertwined.

Attendees can look forward to garments and artworks that encompass a diverse array of conceptual links and experiences, including formal, aesthetic, political, individual, universal, and beyond. The expansive theme is filled with opportunities and perspectives on how attire influences culture and, consequently, ourselves.

The exhibition will be on display from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. Its inauguration will mark the opening of nearly 12,000-square-foot galleries adjacent to the Great Hall, showcasing Costume Art. The Met Gala is scheduled for May 4, with the event’s co-chairs and honorary chairs to be revealed in the upcoming months. The funds generated during “fashion’s biggest night out” are crucial for financing The Costume Institute’s exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, and more.

Watch the iconic ballerina Misty Copeland discuss the connection between art, clothing, and the body. She participated in The Met’s announcement of Costume Art.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Related Articles:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Returns Three Ancient Sculptures to Iraq
Metropolitan Museum of Art Makes Over 492,000 Images Available Online for Free
Timeless Fashion in Bloom: The Most Beautiful Met Gala 2024 Red Carpet Looks