The Met Gala, the annual invitation-only fundraising event at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, has set a new price record for tickets in 2026. Entrance now costs $100,000 per ticket, up from $75,000 last year, with tables of 10 starting at $350,000.
Known for its extravagant red-carpet fashion, the Met Gala celebrates the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. The theme for 2026 is “Fashion is Art,” inspired by the upcoming “Costume Art” exhibit exploring the interaction between clothing and the human body. This gala unites high-profile personalities from sports, film, music, and fashion.
This year’s event is sponsored by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, named honorary chairs by the Met. The official co-chairs are singer Beyoncé, actress Nicole Kidman, tennis star Venus Williams, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Approximately 400 guests are expected to attend.
Ticket sales are invitation-only and not available to the general public. Some celebrities attend without paying as fashion houses occasionally purchase tables and cover costs for select guests. The Met Gala proceeds support the Costume Institute, which raised $31 million at the 2025 event.
Jeff Bezos’s involvement has drawn criticism from activist groups opposing billionaire influence. Meanwhile, New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, and his wife will not attend the gala, contrasting with past mayors who have participated during their terms.
Background
The Met Gala began in 1948 as a midnight supper club and evolved into a themed fundraising event in 1973 with the “The World of Balenciaga” exhibit. Since then, it has become a major cultural event, highlighting designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and featuring exhibitions ranging from medieval art to punk fashion.
Sources
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