Why isn’t Zendaya attending the 2026 Met Gala? Here’s the reason the actress is missing the event

The Met Gala may be the biggest night in fashion, but this year one of its most‑watched stars will be missing. Zendaya — a perennial red‑carpet favorite and one of the event’s most anticipated attendees — won’t be walking the iconic steps in 2026.

For years, the actress has delivered some of the Met Gala’s most memorable looks, setting the bar sky‑high every time she appears. But despite a blockbuster year filled with major projects, the star of The Drama is sitting this one out.

Why Zendaya won’t attend the 2026 Met Gala

According to Elle, the Euphoria lead is taking a well‑deserved break. After a packed schedule and multiple high‑profile releases, Zendaya has decided to step back from the spotlight — at least for this year’s gala.

2026 has been Zendaya’s year. The actress has starred in multiple projects and still has more to release in the coming months.

She participated in the promotional tour for The Drama, where she shares the screen with Robert Pattinson. She also returned for the third season of Euphoria.

She will soon be on tour with Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which premiere in July, as well as the third installment of Dune in December.

When is the 2026 Met Gala?

Each year, the event is scheduled for the first Monday in May, so this year it will take place on Monday, May 4.

The Met Gala is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The event will be streamed live across Vogue’s digital platforms, including its official YouTube channel, TikTok, and vogue.com. The stream begins at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT/3:00 p.m. PT.

What is the theme and dress code for the 2026 Met Gala?

Last November, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that “Costume Art” is the theme of the exhibition that will open with the 2026 Met Gala. According to Vogue, the exhibition’s theme “explores the centrality of the clothed body through representations and interpretations of the human form.”

Vogue revealed in February of this year that the official dress code for the 2026 Met Gala would be “Fashion in Art.” “The dress code will encourage attendees to consider the many ways designers use the body as a blank canvas,” the publication noted.

Met Gala guest list

The guest list remains “secret” until the day of the event. However, there are some clues about who will be attending. For example, the guest list features the co-hosts.

This year’s co-hosts will be singer Beyoncé, actress Nicole Kidman, tennis player Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue and global content director of Condé Nast. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez will serve as honorary chairs.

The list of attendees also includes the members of the organizing committee, which will be chaired by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz. Other members include: Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinéad Burke, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Alex Consani, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Rebecca Hall, LISA, Chloe Malle, Aimee Mullins, Amy Sherald, Tschabalala Self, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Anna Weyant, Lauren Wasser, A’ja Wilson, and Chase Sui.

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