The anticipation surrounding the Met Gala is building with the announcement of this year’s co-chairs, a group that features some of the most influential names in the entertainment industry. Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman will join Anna Wintour, the ever-present force behind the highly awaited event, as co-chairs for the gala, scheduled for May.
Venus Williams, who has never taken on this role before, steps into the spotlight seven years after her sister, Serena Williams, co-chaired the event. Beyoncé, a recurring Met Gala guest known for her stunning fashion statements, previously served as honorary chair in 2013. Nicole Kidman has co-chaired the gala twice, in 2003 and 2005. Under Wintour’s stewardship, the gala continues to be a significant fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, with last year’s event raising a remarkable $31 million.
The museum recently unveiled a host committee for the gala, chaired by designer Anthony Vaccarello and filmmaker Zoë Kravitz. The committee features a diverse array of talents, including musicians like Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sam Smith, as well as actors such as Elizabeth Debicki and Gwendoline Christie. Other notable participants from various fields include dancers, basketball players, models, Vogue editor Chloe Malle, and artist Anna Weyant.
Beyoncé, a staple on the Met Gala red carpet, is known for her breathtaking and often jaw-dropping outfits, with past appearances leaving attendees eagerly awaiting her entrance. In 2015, her daring Givenchy gown set new standards for avant-garde fashion, while her 2016 shiny latex number turned heads once again. The dress code for the upcoming gala remains under wraps, with details yet to be announced. However, it will align with the theme of “Costume Art,” which was revealed last month as the Costume Institute’s spring exhibit.
The “Costume Art” exhibition is set to explore the relationship between garments and other art forms across history. It aims to celebrate “the dressed body” by pairing fashion with various museum objects, including paintings and sculptures. Max Hollein, the museum’s CEO and director, remarked on the exhibition’s potential to be both educational and captivating, highlighting its thematic organization around different body types, including topics such as the “Naked Body” and the “Classical Body,” as well as more unconventional themes like the “Pregnant Body” and the “Aging Body.”
It will be hosted in a newly established gallery space spanning approximately 12,000 square feet, created from the museum’s former retail area. This new space is expected to both showcase the Costume Institute’s spring exhibitions and alleviate congestion in popular areas of the museum. Andrew Bolton, the curator in charge of the Costume Institute, noted that this new gallery represents a significant milestone that acknowledges the vital intersection of fashion, art history, and contemporary culture.
Venus Williams, who recently returned to competitive tennis at the age of 45, made headlines as the oldest player to compete in singles at the U.S. Open in over four decades. Meanwhile, her sister Serena has tempered speculation around her own return to the sport. The “Costume Art” exhibition will open its doors to the public from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, promising an intriguing look into the evolving relationship between fashion and art.
