Met Gala 2026 to Celebrate “Costume Art” Theme on May 4

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has unveiled its theme for the highly anticipated 2026 Met Gala: “Costume Art.” This theme emphasizes the recognition of fashion as a vital medium of artistic expression and celebrates the opening of the museum’s newly renovated Condé M. Nast Galleries. The gala is scheduled for May 4, 2026, but details about the co-chairs and host committee remain undisclosed.

“Costume Art” aims to challenge the prevailing notion that fashion is a lesser form of art compared to traditional mediums like painting and sculpture. This theme also reflects the historical significance of the Costume Institute, which began as the “Museum of Costume Art” in 1937 before merging with the Met in 1946. Curator Andrew Bolton expressed his intention to highlight the connection between the human body and fashion, stating, “I wanted to focus on the centrality of the dressed body within the Museum, connecting artistic representations of the body with fashion as an embodied art form.”

The upcoming exhibition will showcase approximately 200 existing artworks from the Met’s collection alongside contemporary and historical garments and accessories. It will explore various themes such as the “Naked Body,” “Classical Body,” “Ageing Body,” “Anatomical Body,” and “Pregnant Body.” These categories underscore the diverse ways in which fashion interacts with cultural and individual identities.

Bolton elaborated on the exhibition’s approach, saying, “Rather than prioritizing fashion’s visuality, which often comes at the expense of the corporeal, Costume Art privileges its materiality and the indivisible connection between our bodies and the clothes we wear.”

Visitors can expect to see an eclectic mix of works, including a striking dress by Rei Kawakubo from the Comme des Garçons Fall/Winter 2017-18 collection alongside Hans Bellmer’s “La Poupée,” created circa 1936. The exhibition will also feature a gown by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy from Fall/Winter 2010, paired with illustrations from the Meiji Period by Kawanabe Kyōsai.

The opening of the Condé M. Nast Galleries marks a significant moment for the Met, reinforcing the growing recognition of fashion’s role in shaping culture and preserving history. The galleries will span approximately 11,500 square feet, utilizing the former gift shop space in the Great Hall. They will continue to celebrate the essence of “Costume Art” long after the gala, with future exhibitions planned to examine the intersection of art and fashion.

Unlike past themes that focused on specific cultures or traditions, such as 2015’s “China: Through the Looking Glass,” the 2026 theme adopts a broader scope while primarily concentrating on “Western art from prehistory to the present.” Last year, Bolton collaborated with guest curator Monica Miller to organize “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which highlighted the legacy of Black Dandyism in menswear, marking the first Met Gala theme centered around Black culture.

As anticipation builds for the 2026 Met Gala, the broader theme offers designers a wide canvas for interpretation, promising a diverse array of creative expressions. The absence of a subtitle, unlike previous years, further encourages innovative concepts.

With numerous recent appointments in the luxury fashion sector, such as Jonathan Anderson at Dior and Matthieu Blazy at Chanel, the 2026 Met Gala will likely attract significant attention as designers unveil their interpretations of the theme.

As the date approaches, more information, including the host committee, is expected to be announced. The fashion world and art enthusiasts alike are eager to see how the theme “Costume Art” will unfold on the iconic Met steps.