How much does it cost to attend the Met Gala?

Every year the Met Gala is one of America’s most exclusive celebrity events, with guests spanning Hollywood, reality television, Congress and the Royal Family.

Officially known as the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit, it was first founded in 1946 and the first large-scale event took place in 1948. Since then, the Met Gala has become a key fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Costume Institution in New York City.

The lucky few who get to go are personally invited by Vogue director Anna Wintour, but that doesn’t mean that they are not expected to buy a ticket. Given the extravagance of the evening, and the wealth of those in attendance, tickets for the Met Gala do not come cheap...

How much do Met Gala tickets cost?

In recent years the price of attending the Met Gala has soared, with this year’s ticket more than twice as expensive as the 2022 price. Two years ago entry cost $30,000, but that was upped to $50,000 for the 2023 event.

Incredibly, CBS News reports that tickets for the 2024 Met Gala cost $75,000.

However many of the big-name celebrities that you have seen strutting up the famous steps will not have had to buy a ticket. The world’s most celebrated brands from the worlds of fashion, design and culture buy up tables and invite some of their favourite stars. Prices for tables start at an eye-watering $350,000.

Why do people attend the Met Gala?

In recent years the Met Gala has been nicknamed the ‘East Coast Oscars’ but, in reality, it’s cultural heft may even exceed that of the iconic awards night. There is no single night that can match the Met for the density, and the variety, of celebrities, taste-makers and the globally adored.

The exclusive and expensive ticketing system gives real kudos to those in attendance and adds an air of luxury to the brands who become associated with the event. For major brands, used to spending tens of millions of dollars on a single advertising campaign, a $350,000 table is a comparative bargain.

The demand for tickets is so high that even the recent inflation in price is unlikely to reduce to appeal. In fact, the increase in price could serve to make the Met Gala even more exclusive, even more covetable.

“I’ve known of society names who couldn’t get a ticket and are prepped to go if there’s a last-minute seat that becomes available,” vintage store owner and Met Gala attendee Cameron Silver has revealed. “They have their look ready even if they aren’t certain of whether they will actually have a seat days before the event.”