The highly anticipated 2025 Met Gala is fast approaching. On the first Monday in May, celebrities transform into walking masterpieces upon arrival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
While its primary purpose is to raise funds for the Costume Institute and celebrate the new exhibit, the Met Gala red carpet has reached legendary status in its own right. Every year, the world watches to find out which stars got an invite and, more importantly, what they’re wearing.
In the lead-up to fashion’s biggest night, here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Met Gala, set for Monday, May 5, from the theme to the dress code to the celebrity guests and more.
What is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is a fundraising event benefiting The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Traditionally held to coincide with the inauguration of the department’s annual fashion exhibition, the high-profile affair consistently garners substantial eight-figure sums in donations.
As to why the money goes into the Costume Institute’s budget? It is the only curatorial department at the Met that is required to pay for itself. This is part of a deal made in 1946 when the Museum of Costume Art merged with the Met; at the time, fashion was not considered an entirely respectable art form. Enter the gala! Last year’s event generated around $26 million.
When is the 2025 Met Gala?
Mark your calendars: The 2025 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 5. The date of the occasion is set in stone, always occurring on the first Monday in May. Simply put, it’s tradition.
What is the theme of the 2025 Met Gala?
In October, the Metropolitan Museum of Art unveiled the theme of the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition, entitled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which focuses on Black dandyism.
The theme of the exhibition is inspired by the work of Monica L. Miller, a professor and chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, and her 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Curated by Miller and the Costume Institute’s Andrew Bolton, the exhibit will be split into 12 sections, each exploring a different aspect of dandy style.
What is the 2025 Met Gala dress code?
Each year, the dress code takes inspiration from the exhibition theme and references ideas explored in the show. As announced in February, the Met Gala 2025 dress code is “Tailored for You.” This directive aligns with the exhibition’s focus on specific menswear and the art of suiting.
Who are the 2025 Met Gala co-chairs?
The co-chairs joining Anna Wintour for the 2025 Met Gala include musician and menswear designer Pharrell Williams, rapper ASAP Rocky, Formula 1 race car driver Lewis Hamilton, Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo and NBA star LeBron James, who is serving as an honorary chair.
Who are the 2025 Met Gala hosts?
For the first time since 2019, there will be a host committee. The 2025 Met Gala host committee reads like a mosaic of Black excellence with André 3000, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jordan Casteel, Dapper Dan, Doechii, Ayo Edebiri, Edward Enninful, Jeremy O. Harris, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Rashid Johnson, Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, Audra McDonald, Janelle Monáe, Jeremy Pope, Angel Reese, Sha’Carri Richardson, Tyla, Usher and Kara Walker.
Where is the Met Gala held?
Each year, the Met Gala takes place within the iconic walls of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Out-of-town guests and even some local attendees often reside in nearby five-star hotels, with certain establishments becoming unofficial hubs for celebrity sightings en route to the red carpet. The Mark Hotel on New York’s Upper East Side, just four blocks away from the museum, has become a prime location for spotting A-list guests and gets booked up months in advance.
Who gets invited to the Met Gala?
Unlike other fundraisers, the Met Gala is invitation-only. The guest list is carefully curated by Wintour, who has been the gala’s chief mastermind since 1999, and has transformed the event from a run-of-the-mill charity dinner into the star-studded spectacle it is known for today.
While the Met Gala once hosted some 800 guests, post-COVID-19, the exclusivity factor has only increased, limiting the number to approximately 450 individuals, according to Vogue. The invites are sent out to A-list celebrities as well as emerging stars, including some of the most influential famous names from fashion, the arts, sports, politics and, increasingly, social media.
Do celebrities buy their tickets to the Met Gala?
In a word, no. Celebrities are usually invited by brands (or by brands at Vogue‘s request), who buy seats at a table and compete to custom-dress the most buzzworthy names. For the 2025 Met Gala, a 10-person table starts at $350,000, just as it did in 2024. However, that doesn’t mean brands get to pick their tablemates, as all seating arrangements must be approved by Wintour.
Who is expected to attend the 2025 Met Gala?
While the guest list is a closely guarded secret that is only revealed once the stars hit the red carpet, this year’s co-chairs are usually among the first to arrive, as they help set the sartorial tone for the evening. One exception is James, an honorary co-chair. If the Los Angeles Lakers make it through to the NBA conference semifinals, he will be unable to attend the gala.
Even if James is a no-show, superstar athletes have become a de rigueur presence in recent years, so expect to see ballers on the carpet, including number one WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers.
Zendaya will also be on the Met Museum steps, as her longtime stylist and “image architect” Law Roach confirmed to E! News in April, but there’s a twist: they’re arriving separately, which is not the norm. As Roach told the outlet: “We’re doing our own thing this year, which is exciting.”
Other reported guests include Mary J. Blige, Lizzo, Shakira, Ashley Graham and Amelia Gray Hamlin. There will surely be a Kardashian/Jenner or two, judging by previous years. Several young Black designers, such as LaQuan Smith, will also be there, and many for the first time.
Will Rihanna be at the 2025 Met Gala?
Given that her partner, Rocky, is a co-chair, the answer is most likely yes, but you never know with Rihanna. (Last year, she confirmed her attendance and then called in sick at the last minute.) She also has a reputation for arriving very late, so we may see Rocky arriving solo. As co-chairs are among the first on the Met steps, Rihanna is more likely to close the red carpet.
What happens during the Met Gala?
The intricacies of the gala remain largely confidential. The general run of show is a cocktail hour followed by a seated dinner, and finally, a musical performance (or two!), but more on that later.
Upon entering the museum, guests are expected to follow a no-phone policy, and by extension, no social media, which is designed to preserve the mystery of the elusive affair. Still, every year, behind-the-scenes photos and videos taken inside the gala inevitably surface on social media.
Guests, however, are given the exclusive opportunity to explore the exhibit before it’s unveiled to the public several days later. (The spring 2025 costume exhibition will be on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from Saturday, May 10, to Friday, October 26.)
Once the champagne is flowing, dinner is served. Recently, Vogue began unveiling the menu, overseen this year by Nigerian author and chef Kwame Onwuachi of Tatiana in Lincoln Center and Dōgon in Washington, D.C., along with photos of the table settings, in the lead-up to the big night.
Last but far from least, the Met Gala ends with a musical performance of epic proportions.
Who will perform at the 2025 Met Gala?
The musical performer isn’t revealed to anyone, including the attendees, until the night of the event. While the 2025 Met Gala co-chairs and host committee are stacked with rappers, singers and songwriters, historically, neither group has been known to participate in the performances.
Take Billie Eilish, who was a co-chair in 2021, but did not perform. Instead, Justin Bieber served as the main act, while Ariana Grande made a surprise performance toward the end of the set.
Who else has performed at the Met Gala in the past?
The list of high-profile headliners has included Cher, Diana Ross, Lady Gaga, Lenny Kravitz, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd and Nas, to name a few. The musical artists have collaborated, debuted new albums and performed one-off songs never heard before or since.
Where are the performances inside the Met Gala?
Performances are most often staged in front of the Temple of Dendur, which is in the same gallery as the dinner. However, there are notable exceptions, as seen in 2018 when Madonna turned the grand staircase of the Great Hall (and the information desk!) into her stage as she opened her set with “Like a Prayer” before descending the steps and walking through the crowd.
Meanwhile, in 2015, Rihanna got everyone on their feet when she hopped on top of the center dining table, where Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Jessica Chastain were sitting (or, by that point, standing). It felt appropriate that she belted out “B**** Better Have My Money” along the way.
How can non-attendees experience the 2025 Met Gala?
For those eager to partake in the evening’s glamour and excitement from the comfort of their own home, visit UsWeekly.com to see all of the Met Gala 2025 red-carpet looks in real time, as we’ll be chronicling everything from the arrivals to the after-parties on fashion’s biggest night.
When does the 2025 Met Gala start?
In theory, the timed arrivals — each guest is given a slot — start at 5 p.m. ET, usually with the evening’s co-chairs and hosts, and end at 8 p.m. Unless, of course, you’re Rihanna or Beyoncé, in which case you arrive whenever you want.
How can I watch the 2025 Met Gala?
On Monday, May 5, Vogue will livestream the event for the fifth consecutive year. Kicking off at 6 p.m. ET, La La Anthony and Emma Chamberlain, both of whom hosted in the past, will be joined on the red carpet this time around by singer Teyana Taylor and comedian Ego Nwodim.
Looking for more Met Gala content?
Find it via Us Weekly’s comprehensive Met Gala hub, which highlights the best dresses of all time, the worst wardrobe malfunctions in history, the most shocking beauty moments and more.
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