Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour to Co-Chair 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art”

Fashion’s most anticipated night is already shaping up to be a powerhouse affair, as the Metropolitan Museum of Art announces that global icons Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala. The star-studded event, set for Monday, May 4, 2026, will serve as the opening celebration for the Costume Institute’s groundbreaking exhibition, “Costume Art,” marking a bold new chapter for the museum’s renowned fashion wing.

This year’s theme of Met Gala draws directly from “Costume Art,” the first exhibition to inaugurate the Costume Institute’s new permanent galleries—the 12,000-square-foot Condé Nast Galleries, adjacent to the museum’s iconic Great Hall. Curated by Andrew Bolton, the exhibit promises to delve into the profound interplay between clothing and the human body, challenging traditional notions of fashion as mere aesthetics.

“Rather than prioritizing fashion’s visuality, which often comes at the expense of the corporeal, ‘Costume Art’ privileges its materiality and the indivisible connection between our bodies and the clothes we wear,” Bolton explained in a statement.

The show will be structured around thematic explorations of the body, including the “Naked Body,” “Classical Body,” “Anatomical Body,” “Pregnant Body,” and “Aging Body.” It will juxtapose historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute with paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from the Met’s vast collection, spanning Western art from prehistory to the present. The exhibition opens to the public on May 10, 2026, and runs through January 10, 2027.As co-chairs, Beyoncé, Kidman, Williams, and Wintour bring a dynamic blend of entertainment, athleticism, and editorial prowess to the evening.

Beyoncé, the 32-time Grammy winner and cultural trailblazer, marks her return to the Met Gala steps after a decade away—her last appearance was in 2016, where she stunned in a shimmering Givenchy Haute Couture gown. Her influence on fashion, from the visual storytelling of her “Cowboy Carter” era to her boundary-pushing red carpet moments, positions her as a perfect steward for an exhibit celebrating embodiment and expression.

Nicole Kidman, the Oscar-winning actress known for her chameleon-like transformations on screen and style, has prior experience in the role, having co-chaired the Gala in 2003 and 2005. Fresh off her dramatic Balenciaga ensemble at the 2025 Met Gala—complete with a bold pixie cut—she embodies the exhibit’s focus on the body’s narrative through costume.

Venus Williams, the tennis legend with seven Grand Slam singles titles, adds a layer of athletic grace and empowerment to the lineup. A recent attendee at the 2025 Gala in a verdant “tennis couture” Lacoste look, Williams brings her advocacy for body positivity and inclusive design to the forefront. This will be her first time co-chairing, following her sister Serena’s hosting turn in 2019.

Rounding out the quartet is Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s chief content officer, who has helmed the Met Gala for decades. Though she stepped down as editor-in-chief earlier this year after 37 years—handing the reins to Chloe Malle—Wintour remains the event’s indispensable architect, ensuring its status as fashion’s ultimate fundraiser.

The Gala’s Host Committee, co-chaired by Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello and actress Zoë Kravitz, boasts an eclectic roster of talents spanning music, film, sports, and art. Notable members include Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Consani, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, LISA, Chloe Malle, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Lauren Wasser, Anna Weyant, A’ja Wilson, and Yseult.