Wintour: Met-Gala macht mich immer noch nervös
Anna Wintour, longtime host of the Met Gala, admitted at a press conference that even after nearly 30 years, the star-studded fundraiser still makes her nervous, calling it both her favorite and most terrifying time of year. The annual Costume Institute Benefit, which raises millions for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, is expected to bring in more donations than ever this year, according to Wintour and museum director Max Hollein. This year's gala opens the exhibition "Costume Art" with the dress code "Fashion is Art," and new gallery spaces for the Costume Institute will debut. Co-chairs include Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, while New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly declined to attend.
The Met Gala is the world's largest museum benefit, and its continued success underscores the growing intersection of fashion, celebrity, and museum fundraising. Wintour's leadership has transformed a once-small event into a global spectacle that generates over $500 million in cumulative donations, providing the entire annual budget for the Costume Institute. The event also highlights how museums increasingly rely on high-profile, commercially driven events to fund their operations and exhibitions, raising questions about the balance between philanthropy, celebrity culture, and institutional mission.