Everything you need to know about the 2026 Met Gala - including the red carpet icon rumoured to be skipping it
Updated . First published
Get excited: fashion's biggest night of the year is hours away.
But, if alarming new reports are anything to go by, one of the undisputed style queens of the Met Gala will be giving the event a miss this year.
When stars assemble at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday (Tuesday morning in Australia), Zendaya reportedly won't be among them.
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Don't panic, but there are reports Zendaya is skipping the Met Gala this year. Getty
While the actress' back-to-back press tours for The Drama and Euphoria have been given as the reason, many speculate it's also a political move – more specifically, a snub of Jeff Bezos, this year's sponsor.
This follows reports Meryl Streep turned down an invitation to co-chair the event due to the Amazon billionaire's involvement.
The drama, indeed!
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Nicole Kidman is a co-chair of the 2026 event. Getty
This year's A-list attendees have been assigned a simpler dress code than usual: Fashion Is Art, part of the bigger exhibition theme "Costume Art".
The 2026 Met Gala's co-chairs were announced earlier this year, with the lineup including Aussie legend Nicole Kidman, Beyoncé and Venus Williams.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 event on Monday, May 4 (Tuesday in Australia).
Who is on the guest list for the 2026 Met Gala?
It's been reported Kim Kardashian, who has become one of the most anticipated arrivals at the yearly event, will be back on the carpet, according to Page Six.
There is no word yet if any of her sisters or their mother, Kris Jenner, will be attending although they have attended in the past.
The outlet also reports Julia Garner will be there, along with Alexa Chung, Gabrielle Union, Rebecca Hall and Golden State Warriors basketball star Jimmy Butler.
Kim Kardashian's been a Met Gala regular, and she's reportedly returning this year. Getty
It seems Hailey Bieber will also attend this year, but there's no word yet on if her husband Justin Bieber will be there by her side.
And, as mentioned, it's reported Zendaya will not be attending (sob!).
What is the theme for the 2026 Met Gala?
The theme for the Met Gala and the Exhibition is Costume Art, as revealed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Instagram in November.
READ MORE: All the dazzling looks and celebrity arrivals on the Met Gala red carpet
Hailey Bieber is expected to attend once again. Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
The theme will focus on "on Western art from prehistory to the present," the museum said.
"The show will explore artistic representations of the dressed body, pairing fashions and artworks from the Museum's vast collection to highlight the inherent relationship between clothing and the body."
The dress code will be Fashion is Art, tying into the theme nicely.
Vogue magazine explained this means guests are invited to "express their own relationship to fashion as an embodied artform."
The Met Gala's dress code of Fashion Is Art ties in with the overall Costume Art theme of the exhibition. Getty Images for The Met Museum/
When is the 2026 Met Gala?
Every year, the Met Gala is held on the first Monday of May. In 2026, that falls on May 4.
The gala is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
What does Jeff Bezos have to do with the Met Gala?
Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos have been announced as the 2026 exhibit's primary donors.
The event usually accepts sponsorships and donations from fashion houses, with Louis Vuitton being the biggest sponsor of the 2025 event.
However, Anna Wintour, who plans the event, has welcomed wealthy donors in the past, like businessman Stephen A. Schwarzman and his wife Christine Schwarzman in 2018.
Who are the 2026 co-chairs?
Each year, a group of celebrities are selected to host the Met Gala alongside former US Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
In 2026, Wintour will be supported by Nicole Kidman, Beyoncé and Venus Williams.
What is the purpose of the Met Gala?
The 2026 Met Gala will be held on May 4. Getty
The gala raises money for the Met's Costume Institute.
This is the only department at the museum that must fund its own activities, including the conservation and restoration of historical clothes and costumes.
Can a regular person attend the Met Gala?
No. The Met Gala is an exclusive, invitation-only event.
Guests are invited by Vogue or by brands that buy tables at the event.
The guest list is pre-approved by Anna Wintour before invites are sent out. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
The guest list is also pre-approved by Anna Wintour before invites are sent out.
How much do Met Gala tickets cost?
The tickets are rumoured to cost $US75,000 ($115,368) for one seat and $US350,000 ($538,387) for a whole table.
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