The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute has announced that three globally celebrated women Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman will serve as co-chairs for the 2026 Met Gala. This announcement has generated considerable anticipation across the fashion, entertainment, and cultural sectors, as each of the newly appointed co-chairs brings a distinct creative legacy and influence on one of the most watched annual events in the world.
The Met Gala, often described as fashion’s most prestigious night, is scheduled to take place on May 4, 2026. The event functions as the primary fundraising gala for the Costume Institute, supporting both its exhibitions and its commitment to preserving fashion as an essential form of cultural expression. While Anna Wintour continues her longstanding role as the gala’s chief host and guiding force, the selection of Beyoncé, Williams, and Kidman reflects a deliberate and contemporary acknowledgment of the evolving intersection between fashion, performance, sports, and global culture.
For Beyoncé, the appointment marks a particularly notable return. Though she has remained influential in the fashion world through her public appearances, visual albums, and fashion partnerships, 2026 will be her first Met Gala appearance in ten years. Her past contributions to the gala have included some of the most memorable looks in Met Gala history, solidifying her status as a fashion icon. Her return as co-chair symbolizes a renewed alignment between her artistic vision and the thematic ambitions of the Costume Institute.
Venus Williams joins the co-chair slate with a legacy that extends far beyond her historic achievements in tennis. Over the past decade, she has become increasingly recognized for her entrepreneurial ventures, interior design work, and emerging presence in high fashion. Her previous appearances at the Met Gala have showcased her stylistic evolution and her growing engagement with the broader design world. Serving as a co-chair for the first time represents an important milestone in her crossover from sports legend to influential cultural figure.
Nicole Kidman assumes the role with significant experience, having previously served as a co-chair in earlier years. Known for her sophisticated red-carpet presence and longstanding relationships with major fashion houses, Kidman offers a seasoned understanding of the Gala’s curatorial and aesthetic expectations. Her involvement underscores the Gala’s commitment to celebrating fashion as a performative, cinematic, and narrative-driven art form.
The 2026 Gala will be held in conjunction with the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, titled “Costume Art.” The exhibition explores the ways in which fashion functions as a form of artistic production, challenging traditional divisions between apparel and fine art. Drawing on the Met’s extensive collection, the exhibition will pair historical garments, couture pieces, textiles, and accessories with artworks from a wide range of artistic disciplines. By positioning clothing within the context of sculpture, painting, and decorative arts, “Costume Art” aims to highlight the conceptual, technical, and cultural dimensions of fashion as an artistic practice.
The exhibition will also take advantage of newly expanded gallery spaces at the museum, offering visitors a more immersive and comprehensive journey through global fashion history. Curators have emphasized that this expanded format will allow them to present a richer narrative about the evolution of fashion, the craftsmanship behind significant works, and the dialogues between fashion designers and artists across time.
A prestigious host committee will support the three co-chairs. Fashion designer Anthony Vaccarello and actress Zoë Kravitz will serve as co-chairs of the committee, which is expected to include notable figures from the arts, entertainment, design, and athletics. Their participation reflects the Gala’s increasing emphasis on multidisciplinary creativity and its role as a space where varied cultural voices converge.
As always, the Met Gala will not only showcase extraordinary fashion but will also serve its larger philanthropic purpose. Proceeds from the event ensure that the Costume Institute can continue developing exhibitions, conducting research, and safeguarding its collections for future generations. Over the years, the Gala has helped transform the Costume Institute into one of the world’s leading centers for the study and presentation of fashion.
With Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman at the helm, the 2026 Met Gala is expected to deliver a powerful blend of glamour, artistic vision, and cultural resonance. Their collective influence spanning music, film, sports, entrepreneurship, and global fashion promise to shape a Gala that honors tradition while embracing the evolving role of fashion in the contemporary world.
