Met Gala's Next Dress Code: 'Fashion is Art'

Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams to co-chair 2026 event as museum exhibition 'Costume Art' explores fashion's place in art history.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 2:05pm

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced the dress code for the 2026 Met Gala will be 'Fashion is Art,' inspired by the theme of the museum's upcoming spring fashion exhibition 'Costume Art.' The exhibition, curated by Andrew Bolton, will feature nearly 400 objects - 200 garments and 200 artworks - exploring the relationship between fashion and art throughout history. The gala will feature a star-studded host committee including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, tennis champion Venus Williams, and Vogue's Anna Wintour.

Why it matters

The Met Gala is one of the most high-profile fashion events of the year, drawing A-list celebrities and setting trends. By framing the dress code around 'Fashion is Art,' the museum aims to make a definitive statement about the artistic merit of fashion and its deep connections to the broader art world. The new 'Costume Art' exhibition also represents a major expansion of the museum's fashion programming, with nearly 12,000 square feet of dedicated gallery space.

The details

The 'Costume Art' exhibition will pair garments from the museum's collection of over 33,000 costumes with artworks from across the Met's curatorial departments. The goal is to examine 'the dressed body' in art and make the case that fashion is not just inspired by art, but is a form of art in itself. Mannequins will feature mirrored heads to allow visitors to see themselves reflected in the fashions. The exhibition will be organized into 12 sections exploring different body types, from the classical to the disabled, aging, and corpulent.

  • The Met Gala will take place on May 4, 2026.
  • The 'Costume Art' exhibition will run from May 10, 2026 through January 10, 2027.

The players

Beyoncé

A world-renowned singer and performer who has co-chaired the Met Gala seven times previously.

Nicole Kidman

An acclaimed actress who will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala.

Venus Williams

A legendary tennis champion who will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala.

Anna Wintour

The editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and a long-time co-chair of the Met Gala.

Andrew Bolton

The curator of the Met's Costume Institute who is overseeing the 'Costume Art' exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully, it will put an end to the rather obsolete 'Is Fashion Art?' debate once and for all.”

— Andrew Bolton, Curator, Costume Institute

“We're trying to make a statement here — that this is something WE can do at the Met. We have access to 16 curatorial departments across the museum. Really, nobody else has this capacity.”

— Andrew Bolton, Curator, Costume Institute

What’s next

The 'Costume Art' exhibition will open to the public on May 10, 2026 and run through January 10, 2027.

The takeaway

By framing the Met Gala dress code around 'Fashion is Art' and debuting a major new exhibition exploring the deep connections between fashion and art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is making a bold statement about the artistic merit and cultural significance of fashion as a medium.