With two months until fashion’s biggest night, speculation season has officially begun. On Feb. 23, Vogue unveiled the 2026 Met Gala dress code: “Fashion Is Art.” As themes go, it’s less instruction manual and more open invitation.
The annual gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will once again coincide with the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. This year’s show, titled “Costume Art,” explores what curators describe as “the centrality of the dressed body.” In other words, clothing isn’t an accessory to history, it’s part of the canvas.
A Theme With Room to Roam
Rather than dictating a narrow aesthetic, “Fashion Is Art” encourages interpretation. The exhibition pairs garments with paintings and sculpture from across the museum’s 5,000-year collection, positioning style as a throughline across cultures and eras.
Curator Andrew Bolton has framed the concept around the body itself, how it’s depicted, adorned and understood. The exhibition will examine three broad ideas: bodies most often represented in art, those historically sidelined, and forms considered universal, such as the anatomical figure.
That curatorial lens suggests attendees could lean into structure, proportion or even performance. Expect sculptural silhouettes, references to classical portraiture or perhaps commentary on who gets immortalized in art and who doesn’t. When the brief is this expansive, the red carpet tends to surprise.
A Landmark Year for the Costume Institute
“Costume Art” also marks the debut of the new Condé M. Nast Galleries, a nearly 12,000-square-foot permanent space adjacent to the museum’s Great Hall. The expansion signals a shift in how fashion is positioned within the institution.
For decades, the Costume Institute has staged blockbuster exhibitions, but the opening of dedicated galleries underscores fashion’s standing inside a major art museum. The exhibit will feature nearly 400 objects, garments alongside fine art, running from May 10, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027. The gala, as always, will preview the exhibition on May 4.
Beyoncé Returns to the Steps
The night will also mark the return of Beyoncé, who has not attended the gala in a decade. Her last appearance came in 2016 for “Manus x Machina,” when she wore a latex Givenchy Haute Couture gown that remains etched in Met lore.
This year, she will serve as a co-chair alongside Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. Anna Wintour, who recently stepped down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue but continues her longstanding involvement with the gala, will also act as co-chair.
The host committee includes Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz, with additional members such as Teyana Taylor, Sabrina Carpenter, Misty Copeland and Lena Dunham. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos will serve as honorary chairs.
Expect the Unexpected
When a dress code is this interpretive, the outcome can swing from literal to conceptual. Some guests may treat their look as moving sculpture. Others might reference iconic artworks or reimagine tailoring as installation.
If recent galas have leaned into theatrical spectacle, 2026 could bring a cerebral twist. “Fashion Is Art” suggests reverence, but it doesn’t rule out risk. Couture can be both museum-worthy and meme-ready.
One thing is certain: when the carpet unfurls on the steps of the Met, the industry’s biggest names will attempt to translate theory into fabric. And with Beyoncé back in the mix, expectations are already high.
The Met Gala takes place May 4 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
