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For the most comprehensive live stream of Met Gala arrivals, celebrity interviews and expert commentary, viewers will want to tune in to Live from E!: Met Gala 2026a three-hour special beginning at 3pm PT/6pm ET on May 4, and is available on any streaming TV service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV. E!’s 2026 Met Gala coverage will also air! Live on Peacock (although the streamer does no Offer a free trial).
On the first Monday in May each year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fundraising gala celebrates the opening of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. The 2026 exhibition, which will also be the theme of the evening, is “The Art of Fashion,” which explores images of the clothed body across time and culture. To stick with this evening’s theme, guests and celebrity stylists were tasked with interpreting the accompanying dress code: “Fashion is Art” – more on this below.
At a glance: How to watch the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet arrivals online
- when: Monday, May 4, at 3pm PT/6pm ET
- channel: E!
- Stream online: DirecTV, Peacock, Sling, Hulu + Live TV
Where to watch Met Gala 2026: Live stream the red carpet arrivals online for free
While the Met Gala itself is known to be very private and therefore not filmed, viewers at home can catch up on the events leading up to the biggest night in fashion with the special event broadcast by E! Which lasts for three hours. Live from E!: Met Gala 2026the most comprehensive live broadcast and in-depth analysis of Gala arrivals. This coverage begins Monday, May 4, at 3pm PT/6pm ET on E!, which can be streamed live on any streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV. It will also stream live on Peacock (although your streaming device does). no Offer a trial period).
Learn more about each option (and their free trials and new subscriber discounts) below.
DirectTV
Five-day free trial; Packages start at $19.99 per month
E! It’s included in any of DirecTV’s signature packages: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, or Premier. Additionally, DirecTV is offering a free five-day trial of the streaming service, meaning new subscribers can watch Saturday’s episode at no cost.
Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.
peacock
Starting at $10.99 per month
flow Live from E!: Met Gala 2026 On the peacock. Not a subscriber yet? The streamer has an ad-supported Peacock Premium package for $10.99 per month (or $109.99 per year). Otherwise, the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan costs $16.99 per month (or $169.99 per year).
Although the streaming service doesn’t offer a free trial directly, deal-savvy streamers can enjoy free access to Peacock through partner subscriptions, including Instacart+ and Walmart+, both of which include Peacock Premium in their memberships. Plus, since both Instacart+ and Walmart+ offer free trials — 14 days for Instacart+ and 30 days for Walmart+ — members can stream Peacock (and thus 2026 Met Gala coverage) at no cost during the trial period. Learn more about Walmart+ streaming deals here and the best Peacock subscription deals here.
sling
Half off the first month for select plans
E! It’s included in Sling’s Blue Plan, starting at $45.99 per month. To get the best value for your money, choose Sling’s Orange & Blue plan, which offers everything both the Orange and Blue plans offer, starting at $60.99 per month.
Hulu + Live TV
Three-day free trial; Packages start at $89.99 per month
Watch E! Free with a three-day trial of Hulu + Live TV, which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, starting at $89.99 per month.
Met Gala 2026 theme, dress code
The Met Gala theme and dress code go hand in hand, no matter what no Same thing. The theme for 2026 is “The Art of Fashion,” the same title as the Fashion Institute’s spring 2026 exhibition. This year’s exhibition, which explores images of the clothed body across time and culture, is divided into 13 sections, or body types, some of which are prevalent in works throughout the Metropolitan Museum (such as “The Nude Body” and “The Classical Body”), some that have been traditionally overlooked (such as “The Pregnant Body” and “The Aging Body”) and some that are universal (such as “The Anatomical Body” and “The Mortal Body”). These categories seek to celebrate the diversity and universality of bodily experiences.
The dress code for the 2026 Met Gala is “Fashion is Art,” focusing on fashion as an art form and celebrating the endless depictions of the clothed body throughout art history. To adhere to the theme of the evening, guests and celebrity stylists are tasked with interpreting this dress code.
Co-Chairs and Honorary Chairs of the Host Committee for the 2026 Met Gala
The co-chairs of the 2026 Met Gala are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, while Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos will serve as honorary chairs for the evening, a decision that has received a significant amount of backlash.
Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz are co-chairs of the Met Gala Host Committee, and members include Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinead Burke, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Konsani, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Rebecca Hall, Lisa and Chloe Malley, Amy Mullins, and Tshabalala. Self, Amy Sherald, Sam Smith, Chase Sue Wonders, Tiana Taylor, Lauren Vasser, Anna Weyant, Aja Wilson Weysault.
