When is the MET Gala and what is the theme in 2024?

May is almost upon us and with it, a key date in the fashion calendar. The MET Gala, the annual fundraising event will be taking place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Organized by Vogue magazine and dubbed “Fashion’s biggest night out”, the gala brings together the world’s top designers, promising young creatives, models, A-list celebs and industry dignitaries. The MET Gala is a celebration of fashion but also an invitation-only event with Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who has organized and presided over the gala since 1995, in charge of saying who can come along and who can’t. Usually the guest list includes around 450 names.

How much is a ticket to attend the MET gala?

It is also one of New York City’s biggest charity events - a record $17.4 million was raised for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute in 2022. The Met Gala takes place every year on the first Monday in the month of May and only a handful of editions have been missed since it began in 1948. In 1991, the Costume Institute didn’t hold an exhibit. In 2000 the gala was called off after a Chanel exhibit was cancelled and the 2002 event didn’t happen due to the 9/11 terrorist attack. The 2020 edition was also scrapped as most of the world went into Covid lockdown.

Those lucky, wealthy or fashionable enough to be deemed worthy of appearing on Anna Wintour’s exclusive guest list might have to fork out upwards of $75,000 for a ticket or in excess of $300,000 to sit at a sponsored table. Attendees will also have to adhere to the strict no mobile phones policy, which the organizers have applied to stop pictures and videos being leaked onto social media.

What is the theme and dress code for the 2024 Met Gala?

Since 1973, each gala has followed a theme. There have been some memorable ones in years gone by - from ‘Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design’ in 1974 to ‘The Manchu Dragon: Costumes of China, the Chi’ng Dynasty’ in 1980 and ‘Cubism and Fashion’ in 1998. Last year’s theme was ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ and this year’s exhibition is entitled: ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ with the inauguration taking place on Friday 10 May

The official dress code is ‘The Garden of Time’ - inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story with the same title, which Vogue interprets as floral, anything flowery - including real flowers.

Vogue explains that the exhibition will feature approximately 250 rare items pulled out of storage from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection. Pieces which cover over 400 years in the history of fashion, including designs by Schiaparelli, Dior, Givenchy and a 17th-century English Elizabethan-era bodice. Some of the more fragile pieces which can no longer be worn will be displayed in an AI-generated video animation or via other means of sensory stimulation. Meanwhile more modern, less delicate pieces imbued with the same spirit as the spotlit fashions will be showcased alongside them, and broken up into three sub-themes: Land, Sea and Sky.

Who will host Met Gala 2024?

Vogue editor Anna Wintour has presided over the Met Gala every year, apart from 1996 and 1998, since 1995 alongside a long list of co-hosts. For this 2024 edition, the co-Chairs are Zendaya, Jennifer López, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth, while Jonathan Anderson, creative director at Loewe and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew have been named as honorary chairs.

J-Lo has attended 13 Met Galas over the years and this will be Bad Bunny’s third while for Hemsworth, this year’s event will be first time he has attended.

How can I watch the 2024 Met Gala red carpet?

Celebrities and the darlings of the fashion world will be out on the red carpet before the gala gets underway at 6 p.m. ET. It will be streamed live on Vogue’s official website (www.vogue.com), as well as on their social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. You can also follow the gala live on the online entertainment channel E!

In the days after the event, Vogue will be publishing several photo galleries with images showing red carpet looks, gala highlights, interviews and reels.

The 2024 Met Gala will take place on Monday 6 May at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Fashion enthusiasts old and young alike will already have the date marked in red in their diary.