The MET Gala, the annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and the most anticipated fashion event, has revealed its theme.
Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Max Hollein, in a press conference on November 17th 2026, confirmed that the theme for the 2026 MET Gala will be “Costume Art.” This announcement aligns with the museum’s unveiling of a new exhibition in its new 12,000-square-foot gallery.
“So this is why I’m pleased today to announce that in May of next year, we will open new 12,000-square-foot galleries adjacent to the Great Hall, which will display the Costume Institute’s annual spring exhibitions. With the new galleries, we are expanding our longstanding commitment to collecting and presenting fashion within the context of our—yes, indeed—vast global collection.”
Hollein further explained that the theme Costume Art is inspired by the relationship between garments and the human body, exploring how outfits are shaped by the body and, in turn, how the body is moulded by what we wear.
“Costume Art will examine the concepts of the dressed body across art and fashion history, exploring how representations of the body are shaped by garments and, likewise, how garments are inspired by and reflective of the body.”
He also explained how the theme will draw inspiration from outfits from the institute’s collection and how fashion has influenced the interpretation of fashion in sculptures and different works of art.
“It is about objects from across the museum being juxtaposed with garments from the Costume Institute. In that way, this exhibition presents fashion as an important and impactful mode of expression of the human figure. It also illuminates how fashion is visible in paintings, sculpture, and drawings as a means of representing and transforming the human body.”
Fans of the gala are hopeful that next year’s guests will interpret the theme accurately, using their outfits to deliver the exhibition’s message and showcase the interconnection between art, fashion, and the human form.
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Story by Anita Azawodie |univers.ug.edu.gh
