The 2026 Met Gala has raised a record $42 million (about Sh5.44 billion), surpassing last year’s $31 million, as global celebrities from entertainment, sport, and fashion gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for fashion’s most prestigious night.
The annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute brought together some of the world’s biggest names, with organisers confirming the new record through museum CEO Max Hollein.
The gala, overseen by Vogue’s global editorial director Anna Wintour, carried the theme “Fashion is Art,” aligned with this year’s exhibition “Costume Art,” which opens to the public on May 10.
Among the standout arrivals was Beyoncé, who returned to the Met Gala after a decade-long absence and served as one of the event’s co-chairs.
She arrived in a bejewelled skeleton-inspired gown paired with a feathered coat and headpiece, alongside husband Jay-Z and their daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
Other co-chairs included tennis legend Venus Williams and Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, who opened the red carpet in a red Chanel column dress with feathered cuffs.
The night featured a wide spectrum of celebrity appearances, including Madonna, Cher, Stevie Nicks, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, and Tyla, reflecting the event’s tradition of blending established icons with rising stars.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky also made a late entrance, continuing their reputation for dramatic arrivals, while Bad Bunny drew attention for a conceptual look featuring prosthetics and a white wig, reportedly exploring themes of ageing.
Olympic athletes such as Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu joined NFL and basketball stars on the red carpet, highlighting the event’s expanding crossover between sport and fashion.
The gala also featured designers including Donatella Versace, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney, and Haider Ackermann, underscoring its influence as a global fashion industry hub.
This year’s theme emphasises the relationship between clothing and fine art, with curator Andrew Bolton describing the exhibition as one of “equivalence” between fashion, painting, sculpture, and photography.
Bad Bunny, who is having a blockbuster 2026 with major Grammy wins and the Super Bowl halftime show under his belt, wore prosthetics and a white wig to explore how he would look as an old man, according to Vogue.
The display pairs designer garments with classical and modern artworks to challenge traditional artistic hierarchies.
However, the event was not without controversy. The selection of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos as lead sponsors sparked criticism from activists, though Vogue defended their involvement as philanthropic.
Kendall Jenner was wearing a dress by Zac Posen for Gap Studio. The starting point was said to be a classic Gap white T-shirt that Posen has transformed “into a sculptural statement, inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace”.
The exhibition also highlighted inclusivity, featuring mannequins and representation from disabled artists such as model Aariana Rose Philip, who described her participation as a moment of recognition within the fashion industry.
Beyond its spectacle, the Met Gala remains a critical fundraising engine for the museum’s fashion wing, with proceeds supporting exhibitions, conservation, and research.
As global attention turns to the exhibition’s public opening, this year’s record-breaking fundraising cements the Met Gala’s position as both a cultural showcase and one of the most influential charity events in the world.
