The 2026 Met Gala raised $42 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, surpassing last year's $31 million. The event, themed "Costume Art" with a dress code of "Fashion is Art," featured honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, whose involvement sparked protests. Co-chairs included Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with artists Anna Weyant, Tschabalala Self, and Amy Sherald on the host committee. The gala precedes the Costume Institute's spring exhibition, also titled "Costume Art," opening May 10.
The Met Gala's record fundraising underscores its dual role as a pop-culture spectacle and a critical financial engine for the Costume Institute, which is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The inclusion of Bezos and Sánchez Bezos as honorary chairs highlights the growing intersection of tech wealth and cultural institutions, while the presence of contemporary artists on the committee signals an effort to bridge fashion and visual art. The event's massive media coverage and celebrity participation continue to amplify the museum's visibility and influence.