The 2026 Met Gala made history in more ways than one. Tickets exceeded the six-figure mark for the first time ever.
Each ticket now costs $100,000 ( ₹95 lakh), up from $75,000 last year, according to CBS News. Table 10 starts at $350,000 ( ₹3.2 million), added publication. The event has been going on for almost 80 years.
Tickets cannot be purchased for the public. Participation is by invitation only. However, fashion design houses sometimes buy tables for selected guests.
These guests may attend at no personal cost. Around 400 guests are expected at this year’s gala.
Proceeds from the 2026 Met Gala fund the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. In 2025, the event raised an impressive $31 million. This year’s numbers are expected to significantly surpass that milestone.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos are this year’s honorary chairs. Bezos has a net worth of $286 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He also owns the rocket company Blue Origin and the Washington Post.
His involvement drew backlash from the activist group Everybody Hates Elon. The group hacked into subway storefronts to post anti-billionaire messages. This year’s official co-chairs are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour.
The theme of the Met Gala 2026 is “Fashion is Art”. It is inspired by the upcoming exhibition “Costume Art” at the Costume Institute.
The exhibition explores the relationship between clothing and the human body. The gala evening celebrates the opening of this year’s spring exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Indian Celebrities at Met Gala 2026
Indian celebrities and designers made a strong statement at the 2026 gala. It was a landmark year for India’s presence on the global fashion scene.
Isha Ambani wore a custom sculptural saree woven with gold threads. Her bejeweled blouse contained over 1,800 carats of diamonds. She also carried a manga sculpture by artist Subodh Gupta.
Filmmaker Karan Johar made his official debut at the Met Gala. He wore a ‘Framed in Eternity’ ensemble inspired by painter Raja Ravi Varma. The look featured hand-painted motifs and a dramatic six-foot cape by Manish Malhotra.
Businesswoman Ananya Birla also made her debut. She wore a futuristic black couture gown by Robert Wun. A stainless steel face mask designed by Subodh Gupta completed the look.
Designer Manish Malhotra walked the carpet in a black bandhgala and architectural cape. According to The Indian Express, the piece took more than 960 hours to create.
Natasha Poonawalla wore a wearable sculpture inspired by a white orchid. It was a collaboration between British artist Marc Quinn and Dolce & Gabbana.
Princess Gauravi Kumari wore a dress created from her grandmother Maharani Gayatri Devi’s vintage sarees. Businesswoman Sudha Reddy wore a ‘Tree of Life’ ensemble complete with a rare 550 carat tanzanite necklace worth $15 million.
