How to Watch and What Else You Need to Know

The Washington Post · Herb Scribner

15:01 JST, April 30, 2023

The Met Gala is here again, and we’ve got all the tea for you about how it works, who attends and how you can watch it from home.

What is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala – or, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit – is a black-tie event held annually as a way to raise money for the Costume Institute, the museum’s collection of fashion objects.

Organized by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, the event features some of the country’s biggest names in culture and politics sauntering down the red carpet in fashionable attire that’ll make you turn your head or stop scrolling on your Twitter feed.

When is the Met Gala?

The event is held on the first Monday in May every year. This year, it falls on May 1.

Celebrities tend to arrive between 6 and 6:30 p.m.

How can you watch the 2023 Met Gala?

The E! red carpet coverage will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern time on TV. A live stream will be available on NBC’s website and app.

Vogue will have a live stream for the red carpet beginning at 6:30 p.m., shared across its digital platforms, including its website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

And don’t forget to visit washingtonpost.com for our live blog and other stories.

What is the Met Gala’s theme this year?

For 2023, the Met Gala has centered its theme on Karl Lagerfeld, and it celebrates the opening of the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” exhibit, which honors the late designer’s style and themes.

Lagerfeld is known for transforming Chanel into a modern brand as its creative director starting in the ’80s, and he championed merging fashion with hip-hop. He was also the creative director at Fendi from the 1960s until his death and the longtime designer for Chloe, and launched his own eponymous brand.

“Karl Lagerfeld was one of the most captivating, prolific, and recognizable forces in fashion and culture, known as much for his extraordinary designs and tireless creative output as for his legendary persona,” said Max Hollein, Marina Kellen French director of the Met, in a press release.

It’s unusual for the event to choose an individual rather than a concept as a theme. Usually, themes center on ideas such as the relationship between religion and fashion, or fashion and technology. The last time the theme centered on a person was in 2017 when the event honored Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons.

Who is hosting the Met Gala this year?

Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa and Wintour will serve as co-chairs for the event.

What happens inside the Met Gala?

A behind-the-scenes sneak peek from Kendall Jenner in 2021 showed guests having dinner and then viewing the exhibit. Oftentimes, there’s also a performance from a high-profile star, such as Rihanna or Madonna.

Who is going to the Met Gala?

Although the guest list remains unclear, there have been some hints of who might show up. Kim Kardashian is rumored to appear again, and Elle Fanning told Variety she’s already considering what to wear. Harper’s Bazaar suggested that celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid may have received an invite, too.

Elon Musk, Lizzo, Cardi B, Kylie Jenner, Hadid and Megan Thee Stallion were there last year.

How can you get a ticket to the Met Gala?

You can’t. It’s invite-only. Brands (fashion or otherwise) and wealthy people buy all the tables and tickets. Wintour then “matches” celebrities to sit with that brand.

The cost for an individual ticket is $50,000, per the Associated Press. An entire table costs $300,000.

How do celebrities decide what to wear at the Met Gala?

Celebrities almost always wear custom outfits for the gala, usually created by the designer with whom they are attending. Their ensembles take inspiration from the theme, bringing us such viral moments as Rihanna in an enormous yellow dress by Chinese couturier Guo Pei for the Chinese-themed event in 2015, Jared Leto carrying a copy of his own head courtesy of Gucci for the 2019 “Camp” party and Blake Lively in a copper and green versace gown inspired by the Statue of Liberty for last year’s celebration of American fashion.

What happened at the 2022 Met Gala?

The theme for 2022 was “Gilded Glamour,” a celebration of New York’s Gilded Age, when industrialist families were prominent figures in the city’s society.

Some notable moments included Kim Kardashian wearing the nude Jean-Louis gown previously worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1962, when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy. Elon Musk showed up in a white tux and first lady Jill Biden appearing as the special speaker.

But it appeared to be a quieter affair than years past, as some typical names – such as Rihanna, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez – stayed home. A number of first-timers took their places, including actress Glenn Close and Chloe Fineman of “Saturday Night Live.”

How did the pandemic affect the 2021 Met Gala?

After the 2020 Met Gala was canceled during the early months of the pandemic, the 2021 event was a return to normal – though it was hardly normal. Masks were required, and Nick Minaj didn’t show up because the event required vaccinations (even though guests could provide a negative coronavirus test instead). Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) went viral for wearing a custom dress with “Tax the Rich” on it.

“I know it’s abnormal. It’s one of the more abnormal nights of all time, but yet it’s the closest thing to a normal night out in New York,” Jimmy Fallon said at the event.

“I’m trying not to oversmile,” Fallon added. “I’m just so happy to see everybody, to be dressed up, to hear people yelling.”