Since its inception in 1937, the Met Gala has become synonymous with fashion innovations, originating from the Museum of Costume Arts. What began as a modest fundraising campaign evolved in the 1970s into a glittering night for fashion’s elite to gather. The pandemic has brought new challenges, but the spirit of the Subway remains.
The Met Gala is the most controversial event of the year. Designed to be the spectacle of the year, the event is packed with some of the biggest celebrities and names in attendance, and at the same time, a specific theme is launched for each event.
The red carpet dazzles with some of the most unique outfits that night, and this has been going on for years now. Ahead of the 2026 Met Gala, here’s a look at the general schedule of past events.
When the journey began in 1937
The Fashion Arts Museum was founded by Irene Lewisohn. Earlier, the space was known for offering acting and other theater classes, and was famous for its costumes. These costumes became the basis of the museum’s life.
After Lewisohn’s death a few years later, the museum became part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After joining, it was later named the Fashion Institute, which remains the same to this day.
The Institute’s first ever fundraising event was held in 1948 by publicist Eleanor Lambert. The cost of each ticket at that time was US$50.
When the Met Gala came around
Around 1973, when editor Diana Vreeland took over as chancellor, the Met Gala began to become a glamorous event of the night.
This was also a time when dinners and fundraising events began to be themed. That year, two concerts were held in the same year; One was titled “The World of Balenciaga” in March, and the other, held in recent months, followed the theme “10s, 20s, 30s: Innovative Clothes: 1909-1939.”
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The 50th anniversary of the founding of the Fashion Institute
One of the most important moments of the Met Gala came around 1983, when the institute celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The annual event itself was dedicated to Vreeland herself, and some past costumes from the event were also on display at the gala dinner. This year, guests attending the event paid about $850 per night. Gradually, over the years, the cost of each ticket increased over time.
An honor for Diana Vreeland
Four years after her death, another Met Gala was held to honor the director. The event was a complete dedication to her, and many of her outfits were on display as well.
Decorator also has settings for her magazine layouts, photos of people she’s liked, and more. Moreover, the ticket price has increased to about 900 US dollars.
1997: One of the institute’s activities, which was held in the shortest preparatory period
This year’s event was held in honor of Gianni Versace, who was murdered the same year. As a result, it has been ranked as one of the Met Galas that had the least amount of preparation time. During the event, the Institute recorded significant fundraising, as the amount reached 2.3 million US dollars.
2021: Event amidst the pandemic
During 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still ongoing, spirits were still high at the Met Gala. That year’s theme was “In America: A Dictionary of Fashion.” The guest list for tonight was very short, given the fact that the pandemic is still ongoing. Furthermore, all guests were also required to be vaccinated to qualify to attend.
Exhibition “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”.
In 2023, one of the biggest names in the fashion industry, Karl Lagerfeld, was held in 2019, and years later, in his honour, an entire exhibition entitled “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” was held.
Tickets for the event are set at $50,000, a big jump from $50 a ticket around the time of its inception.
“Awesome” topic.
Last year’s event was a huge success and came under the slogan “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”. The event was attended by some of the biggest names in the Hollywood industry and was broadcast extensively on television. The same event last year was co-chaired by Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, and honorary chair LeBron James.
What is the 2026 Met Gala all about?
This year’s Met Gala will follow the theme “Fashion is Art.” It will be held on May 4, and the fashion exhibition that will be held at the event will have the theme “The Art of Fashion.”