Beyoncé returns to the Met Gala as host alongside Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams in New York
Singer Beyoncé was announced as one of the co-hosts of Met Gala 2026, an annual charity gala event held at Metropolitan Museum of Art, in Nova York. Confirmation took place this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, by the magazine Vogue and the museum. Alongside her, actress Nicole Kidman and tennis player Venus Williams take on the role, with editor Anna Wintour completing the quartet of main hosts.
Met Gala, scheduled for May 4, 2026, marks the return of Beyoncé to the event’s red carpet after her last appearance in 2016. On the occasion, she wore a couture dress by Givenchy for the theme “Manus x Machina”. Kidman and Williams, in turn, have participated regularly in recent years, including the 2025 edition themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”.
The event serves as the main fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute, which in 2025 saw a record $31 million in donations. The associated exhibition, “Costume Art”, opens to the public on May 10, 2026 and runs until January 10, 2027.
- Main co-hosts: Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour.
- Gala date: May 4, 2026, first Monday in May.
- Exhibition theme: “Costume Art”, focused on the relationship between the clothed body and art.
- Main sponsors: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, with support from Saint Laurent and Condé Nast.
Profiles of Featured Co-Hosts
Beyoncé, 44, debuts as main co-host, after serving as honorary chair in 2013. Sua absence since 2016 generated expectations among fans and fashion professionals. The artist, known for albums like “Cowboy Carter”, influenced global trends with iconic looks at awards shows.
Nicole Kidman, 58 years old, has experience at the event, having co-hosted editions in 2003 and 2005. The Australian actress, winner of the Oscar for “As Sua presence reinforces the intersection between cinema and fashion at the gala.
Venus Williams, 45 years old, takes on the role for the first time, seven years after her sister Sua participation highlights sport as a cultural element in Met Gala.
Anna Wintour, global editor of Vogue, has overseen the event since 1995. Sua curation sets the annual tone, connecting celebrities, designers and philanthropists.
Expansion of the Costume Institute galleries
Met Gala 2026 inaugurates the new Condé M. Nast Galleries, with almost 1,115 square meters adjacent to the museum’s Great Hall. Esse permanent space elevates the visibility of fashion exhibitions, allowing for long-term installations.
The renovation, completed after years of planning, integrates the Costume Institute into the main flow of visitors. Anteriormente, the exhibits were in underground areas, limiting access. Agora, the galleries facilitate dialogues between fashion and other Met arts.
Curator Andrew Bolton emphasizes that the change promotes equivalence between pieces of clothing and historical works. The strategic location reduces congestion at popular exhibitions, improving the public experience.
Similar projects in museums such as Victoria & Albert, in Londres, inspired the model, which prioritizes accessibility and integrated storytelling.
Exhibition details
The exhibition “Costume Art” examines the centrality of the clothed body in the Met collection, spanning more than 5,000 years of artistic history. Cerca of 200 pieces of historical and contemporary clothing will be paired with paintings, sculptures and objects from different eras.
Organized into themes of body types, the exhibition includes representations of the “naked body”, “classic body”, “pregnant body” and “aged body”. Essa approach highlights bodies often ignored in Western art, promoting inclusion.
Mannequins with mirrored faces, designed by artist Samar Hejazi, invite visitors to reflect their image in their clothes. The curatorship seeks empathy, connecting the observer to the narratives of the represented bodies.
Key pieces include Charles James’s “Bustle” dress from the 1950s, alongside works such as Albrecht Dürer’s “Adam and Eve” from 1504. The exhibition focuses on Western art from prehistory to the present, with loans from in-house collections.
Host committee composition
Anthony Vaccarello, designer of Saint Laurent, and actress Zoë Kravitz co-chair the host committee for
Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat represent the new pop generation, with recent hits on global charts. Gwendoline Christie and Elizabeth Debicki bring experience from productions such as “Game of Thrones” and “The Crown”.
Misty Copeland, principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre, and A’ja Wilson, WNBA star, embody athletic diversity. Modelos like Alex Consani and Paloma Elsesser highlight inclusion of sizes and ethnicities.
Other members include LISA of Blackpink, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and Yseult, with more names to be revealed. The committee assists in curating guests and activities, ensuring thematic balance.
- Musicians: Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, LISA, Sam Smith, Yseult.
- Actors: Gwendoline Christie, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Teyana Taylor, Zoë Kravitz.
- Athletes and dancers: Misty Copeland, A’ja Wilson, Venus Williams (co-host).
- Templates and editors: Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser, Lauren Wasser, Chloe Malle.
- Artists and designers: Anna Weyant, Anthony Vaccarello.
Fundraising history and impact
Met Gala raised $31 million in 2025, surpassing previous records and financing acquisitions from Costume Institute. Fundos support publications, conservation, and annual operations of the department.
Since 1948, the event has grown from a modest dinner to a global gala, with tickets costing US$75,000 per table. In 2026, the level is expected to be maintained, benefiting exhibitions such as “Costume Art”.
Sponsorships from brands such as Saint Laurent support production, including catalogs edited by Yale University Press. A deluxe edition will be sold exclusively in the Met store.
The impact extends to emerging designers, who gain visibility through celebrity looks. Edições past experiences have boosted collection sales, such as the impact of “Camp” in 2019.
Dress code preparations
The dress code for Met Gala 2026 will be revealed months before the event, in line with the theme “Costume Art”. Expectativas point to silhouettes that explore the body shape, such as sculptural or transparent dresses.
History suggests creative interpretations: in 2016, Beyoncé opted for Givenchy latex for “Manus x Machina”. Para 2026, references to artists like Dürer can inspire stylized nudes or classic drapes.
Designers like Walter Van Beirendonck, with ensembles from 2009, exemplify historical fusions. The curatorship encourages dialogues between body and fabric, avoiding hierarchies between art and fashion.
Guests receive confidential invitations, with internal photos prohibited. The focus remains on fundraising, with auctions and live performances complementing the red carpet.
