The Met Gala is the most talked-about event of the year. Fashioned to be the spectacle of the year, the event is filled to the brim with some of the biggest celebrities and names in attendance, all the while, a set theme is launched for every event. The red carpet dazzles with some of the most unique outfits of the night, and this has been going on for years now. Ahead of the 2026 Met Gala, here is a look at the overall timeline of the past events.
When the journey started in 1937
The Museum of Costume Art is founded by Irene Lewisohn. Earlier on, the space was best known for offering acting and other theatrical classes, and was best known for its costumes. These costumes went on to become the base for the museum’s life. After Lewisohn’s passing a few years later, the museum became a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After the joining, it was later on named the Costume Institute, which has stayed the same to this date. The first-ever fundraiser event for the institute was held in 1948 by publicist Eleanor Lambert. The cost for every ticket at the time was USD 50.
When the Met Gala came to be
Around 1973, when the editor Diana Vreeland took over as a consultant, the Met Gala started becoming more of a glamorous event for the night. This was also around the time when the dinners and fundraising events started getting defined by themes. That year, two galas were held in the same year; one titled ‘The World of Balenciaga’ in March, and the other one, which was held in the latter months, followed the theme of ‘The 10s, the 20s, the 30s: Inventive Clothes: 1909–1939.‘
The Costume Institute’s 50th anniversary
Another one of the most pivotal moments of the Met Gala was around 1983, when the institute celebrated its 50th anniversary. The annual event itself was dedicated to Vreeland herself, and even had some of the past costumes from the event up on display at the gala dinner. This year, the guests who attended the event paid around USD 850 for the night. Gradually, over the years, the cost for every ticket has increased over time.
An honor to Diana Vreeland
4 years after her passing, another Met Gala event was held in order to honor the director. The event was a full dedication to her, and had many of her clothes on display as well. The decor also had set ups of her magazine layouts, photos of people that she admired, and more. On top of that, the ticket’s price increased to around USD 900.
1997: One of the events at the institute, which was held with the shortest time prep
This year’s event was held in honor of Gianni Versace, who was murdered the same year. Due to this, it was labeled as one of the Met Galas that had the least amount of time to prep. During the event, the institute recorded a large amount of fundraising, with the amount reaching USD 2.3 million.
2021: The event amid the pandemic
During 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still going on, the spirits were still high at the Met Gala. The theme for that year was ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion’.The guest list for the night was quite short, due to the fact that the pandemic was still ongoing. On top of that, all of the guests were also requested to be vaccinated to qualify for attendance.
The ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ exhibition
In 2023, Karl Lagerfeld, one of the biggest names in the fashion industry in 2019, and years later, in his honor, a full exhibition titled ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ was held. The ticket pricing for this event was held at USD 50,000, a big leap from the USD 50 per ticket around the time of its inception.
The ‘Superfine’ theme
Last year’s event was a huge success and followed the theme of ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’. The event was attended by some of the biggest names in the Hollywood industry, and was heavily televised. The event itself last year was co-chaired by Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, and honorary chair Lebron James.
What is the 2026 Met Gala all about?
This year’s Met Gala event is going to follow the theme of ‘Fashion is Art.’ It will be held on May 4, and the costume exhibition that will be held at the event will have the theme of ‘Costume Art’.
