Met Gala 2026 Theme Revealed: “Costume Art” Exhibition Launches

The theme for the 2026 Met Gala has been unveiled with the announcement of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute spring exhibition titled “Costume Art.” This exhibition is set to open on May 10, 2026, just days after the Met Gala on May 4, 2026. The exhibition will run until January 10, 2027, and is expected to significantly influence the dress code for the gala.

Curator Andrew Bolton has highlighted the exhibition’s aim to intertwine art and fashion by pairing garments from the Costume Institute with various objects, sculptures, and paintings from the museum’s vast collection. In a conversation with Vogue, Bolton emphasized the importance of the human form in art, stating, “The dressed body is front and center in every gallery you come across. Even the nude is never naked.”

Bolton elaborated on the conceptual framework of the exhibition, which will focus on different body types, including the classical and nude body, aging bodies, pregnant bodies, and anatomical representations. His vision is to reintegrate the body into discussions about art and fashion, aiming to elevate fashion as a legitimate art form rather than a mere accessory.

Innovative Display and New Galleries

The upcoming exhibition will mark the inauguration of the Condé M. Nast Galleries, located adjacent to The Met’s Great Hall. The display will feature mannequins, some adorned with mirrored heads, positioned atop six-foot pedestals, creating an immediate visual impact as visitors enter the space. This design choice aims to draw the audience’s attention upward, enhancing the overall experience of the exhibition.

Last year’s Costume Institute exhibition, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” set a high standard with its accompanying dress code of “Tailored for You.” The anticipation for the 2026 exhibition is already building, as art and fashion enthusiasts look forward to what promises to be a compelling exploration of the relationship between cultural values and the human body.

As the countdown to the Met Gala and the spring exhibition begins, the intersection of art and fashion will take center stage, offering a fresh perspective on how we perceive and celebrate the human experience through clothing and artistry.