All you need to know about the Met Gala 2025

The Met Gala 2025, as always, is set to honor the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual spring exhibition. This year, the focus is on the political and aesthetic aspects of Black dandyism. Here’s everything you need to know about this highly anticipated event, from the theme to the co-hosts.

When is the Met Gala 2025?

The exhibition, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” will be open from May 10 to October 26, 2025, following the Met Gala event on May 5. The gala serves as the Costume Institute’s primary fundraising event.

What’s the Theme for Met Gala 2025?

The 2025 spring exhibition by the Costume Institute, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” will delve into the concept of Black dandyism, exploring how fashion and style have shaped Black identities across the Atlantic diaspora. It’s the first Costume Institute exhibition since 2003’s “Men in Skirts” to center solely on menswear. This theme is inspired by co-curator Monica Miller’s 2009 book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” which frames Black dandyism as both a cultural and political expression. The exhibit will feature 12 characteristics of Black dandyism, based on a 1934 essay by Zora Neale Hurston, “The Characteristics of Negro Expression.” Designers like Grace Wales Bonner, Pharrell Williams, and the late Virgil Abloh are participating in the show. According to Miller, these designers are well-versed in issues the exhibit addresses, including race, power, immigration, slavery, colonization, and empowerment, all through the lens of aesthetics and joy.

Who Are the 2025 Met Gala Co-Chairs?

The 2025 Met Gala co-chairs include Pharrell Williams, actor Colman Domingo, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, musician A$AP Rocky, and Anna Wintour, with basketball star LeBron James as an honorary co-chair.

What is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala, orchestrated by Anna Wintour since 1995, is an annual fundraising event for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It coincides with the opening of the institute’s annual fashion exhibition and has become a celebrated occasion, raising millions of dollars each year.

What Was the Theme for the Met Gala 2024?

The 2024 exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” showcased approximately 50 rare and historically significant garments from the museum’s collection that are too fragile to wear. These “Sleeping Beauties” were displayed using advanced technology to bring them to life. Techniques like the Pepper’s ghost illusion, video animation, light projection, and other sensory technologies offered a deeper understanding of each piece, as explained by Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu Curator in Charge at the Costume Institute.

In 2023, the Met Gala theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” a tribute to the iconic designer who passed away in 2019. Guests honored Karl’s legacy through fashion inspired by his tenures at Chanel, Fendi, Chloé, Patou, and his own namesake brand.

What Happens at the Met Gala?

The Met Gala is famously secretive, with a no-phone policy that prohibits social media posting. However, this rule has occasionally been broken, most notably in 2017 when celebrities shared selfies from the bathroom. Guests typically explore the exhibition, enjoy a high-profile performance, and then sit down for dinner.

How Many People Attend the Met Gala?

The gala typically hosts around 600 guests, though the number was reduced in 2021 to accommodate COVID-19 protocols.

Who Gets Invited to the Met Gala?

The guest list is star-studded, with celebrities, designers, and muses in attendance. In 2024, attendees included Zendaya, Kim Kardashian, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa, Nicole Kidman, Lana Del Rey, and Jennie Kim, along with designer-muse duos like Conner Ives with Ivy Getty, and Jonathan Anderson with Ambika Mod.

Who Were the 2024 Hosts?

In 2024, the Met Gala hosts were Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth, Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Anna Wintour. The dress code theme, “The Garden of Time,” inspired by JG Ballard’s short story, saw guests wearing floral prints, hourglass silhouettes, and classic ball gowns. Memorable looks included Kim Kardashian’s Maison Margiela corset, Zendaya in vintage John Galliano, and Greta Lee in a sculpted Loewe lace dress.

What Are Some of the Most Iconic Met Gala Looks?

The Met Gala has given us many iconic fashion moments over the years. Highlights include Rihanna’s grand Guo Pei couture cape in 2015, Lady Gaga’s dramatic Brandon Maxwell ensemble in 2019, and Kim Kardashian’s all-black Balenciaga look in 2021.

Each year, the Met Gala showcases stunning fashion, encapsulating the spirit of its themes and celebrating the art of costume. The 2025 gala is sure to continue this tradition with a unique exploration of Black dandyism in fashion.