The gala is pitched as a cross-disciplinary moment with broad appeal across music, film, TV, and fashion, while donors help fund the new galleries.

Social media reactions are mixed to pessimistic, with concerns about whether the theme will translate into memorable or over-the-top looks.

Some voices praise the openness of the concept, though others find the theme abstract and hard to interpret.

AP is cited as the source covering the event.

Earlier reporting notes pressure on stars from designers and past outfits, such as stories around Bella Hadid and Kim Kardashian’s dramatic preparations.

Interest remains high in red-carpet interpretations, but exact outfits are too early to predict.

Fans and media are already predicting how attendees like Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Cardi B, Zendaya, and Rihanna might translate the theme into their looks.

Coverage also highlights potentially standout attendees and notes many male guests may opt for traditional tuxedos, depending on interpretation.

Zendaya is highlighted as a model of precision, suggesting a look that weaves historical or surreal art references into a carefully framed appearance.

Designers known for sculptural or body-focused fashion, such as Schiaparelli, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, and Dilara Findikoglu, are among those associated with the theme.

The 2026 Met Gala will center on the theme Fashion Is Art, tied to a Costume Institute exhibition that treats the dressed body as a cultivated, authored form within five millennia of visual culture.

Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour will co-chair the event, with Jeff and Lauren Sanchez Bezos as honorary chairs and supporters of the exhibition.