Here’s everything you need to know about this annual event.
Each May, social media turns into a digital red carpet — and unless you’ve somehow dodged the flurry of feathers, sequins, and sweeping trains, you’ll have seen the unmistakable spectacle that is the Met Gala 2025. But while it may seem like an extravagant costume party for celebrities, this iconic event is far more than just a fashion flex.
What is the Met Gala?
Officially called the Costume Institute Benefit, the Met Gala is held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to raise funds for its Costume Institute. First launched in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the event began as a humble dinner, with tickets priced at just $50. It wasn’t until the 1970s, when legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland came on board, that the Met Gala transformed into the cultural juggernaut we know today — complete with themed exhibitions and guest lists brimming with star power.
These days, the gala is helmed by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, who, alongside a rotating cast of co-chairs, curates the entire experience — from the décor and guest list to the menu and performances. This year, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, and Pharrell Williams shared the spotlight, not just striking poses but actively shaping the evening.
The Met Gala theme
The 2025 theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, paid homage to Black dandyism and its profound impact on menswear across centuries. Guests embraced the brief with gusto. Zendaya redefined structure in Louis Vuitton, Rihanna turned heads in Marc Jacobs, and Shah Rukh Khan made history as the first male Bollywood star to walk the Met stairs, dressed in a contemporary sherwani by Sabyasachi.
How can you attend?
But how does one attend the Met Gala? In short — it’s complicated. You’ll need fame, fashion clout, or a spot at a designer’s table. Tickets start at $75,000 (AED 275,000), with tables soaring past $300,000 (AED 1.1 million), and every name — yes, every single one — is approved by Wintour herself.
Why is the Met Gala important?
Besides being the biggest night in fashion, the Met Gala is a massive fundraiser. In 2024, the event generated $1.4 billion. And with this year’s ticket prices being similar, you can expect the same kind of funds to be collected. And like always, all proceeds will go towards the Costume Institute’s exhibitions, acquisitions, and everything that keeps the history of fashion and craftsmanship alive.
Highlights from the Met Gala 2025
This year’s Met Gala carpet may not have been red, but it was still a runway of iconic moments and masterful fashion. As celebrities ascended the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they did more than just dress to impress—they told stories. Personal, cultural, and often deeply reflective of the evening’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, the looks this year proved that the Met Gala remains the pinnacle of fashion-meets-art.
Leading the charge was head chair Anna Wintour, who surprised many by trading her signature sunglasses for a rare smile. Dressed in a baby blue gown and floor-length blazer created by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton, she embraced this year’s menswear-inspired theme with subtle elegance.
Co-chairs followed suit—A$AP Rocky channelled dandy charm in a custom creation from his label AWGE, Lewis Hamilton turned heads in a tailored Grace Wales Bonner ensemble, and Pharrell brought Western flair in a custom Louis Vuitton look of his own. Colman Domingo made a regal entrance in a sweeping royal blue Valentino cape that felt more Broadway than ballroom—in the best way possible.
Fashion icon Rihanna once again stole the spotlight, flaunting her baby bump in a sharply tailored Marc Jacobs suit-style dress, topped off with a dramatic hat. Andre 3000 delivered one of the evening’s most memorable statements, carrying a miniature piano strapped to his back—an ode to his recent instrumental album. Meanwhile, Usher kept things classic in a Ralph Lauren tuxedo, oozing timeless sophistication.
Teyana Taylor offered an homage to Harlem in a custom Ruth E. Carter look, while Janelle Monáe balanced edge and artistry in a sculptural black-and-white ensemble crafted by Paul Tazewell and Thom Browne. Sabrina Carpenter brought polish in a pinstriped bodysuit and dramatic Louis Vuitton train blazer. Doechii, ever the risk-taker, appeared with the fashion house’s logo stamped across her face, paired with tailored shorts and a structured blazer.
Zendaya delivered drama with a gender-fluid Louis Vuitton design that blended sharp tailoring with avant-garde structure—only she could pull it off. And in a history-making moment, Shah Rukh Khan became the first male Bollywood actor to walk the Met Gala steps, dressed in a modern sherwani reimagined by Indian designer Sabyasachi.
So the next time you spot someone draped in a ten-foot cape or wearing a blazer with a piano on their back, remember — it’s not just a look. It’s the Met Gala. And they’ve dressed to impress.
GO: Visit www.metmuseum.org for more information.