Fashion fanatics worldwide are familiar with the iconic Met Gala. This annual fundraising gala is a showstopper attended by renowned personalities and the media. Anyone who partakes in the fashion exhibition must follow the year’s selected theme and dress accordingly. Those whose attire matches the dress code will be the talk of the fashion industry for months. Similarly, attendees whose outfits fall short will be harshly criticized and ranked online. Despite the pressure, celebrities look forward to attending the Met Gala at least once. Here, we will break down everything related to the fashion’s biggest night out.
Also Read:
- Best May Festivals: A Traveler’s Guide to Spring Events
- Ultimate Things to Do in New York
- Cinco de Mayo Guide: Festivals, Foods, and Travel
Chat with AI about Popular tours in New York
The 2025 Met Gala Theme And Dress Code
- Date: May 5, 2025
- Address: Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
- Met Gala 2025 Theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
- Dress Code: Tailored for You
The Met Gala began in 1948 as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s then-newly founded Costume Institute. It soon became the institute’s annual fashion exhibition to raise funds for its operations and exhibitions. A new theme is released every year, allowing invitees to showcase their fashion prowess and sense of style. Guests first walk down the red carpet, then enter the museum for various events, including checking out the institute’s annual fashion exhibit. Finally, they will enjoy a luxurious dinner accompanied by performances by high-profile musicians.
The 2025 Met Gala’s theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Monica L. Miller’s book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” inspired the theme. It explores the importance of sartorial style and clothing to forming Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora, primarily in the USA and Europe. The exhibition on the theme will be on view from May 10 to October 26, 2025, at The Met Fifth Avenue, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall, Gallery 999. Furthermore, this year’s dress code is “Tailored for You,” paying tribute to the exhibition’s focus on suiting and menswear. Guests are welcome to interpret the art of tailoring and menswear through their perspective and personal styles.
Met Gala 2025 Guest List
Alongside theme and dress code, the most anticipated part about the Met Gala is its guest list. Fans eagerly await seeing celebrities making their debut and former gala participants returning on the red carpet. A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, and Anna Wintour will co-chair the 2025 Met Gala. LeBron James will be an honorary chair. Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, handpicks the participants and keeps their names secret until the event day. Nonetheless, here are the names of the confirmed attendees of the 2025 Met Gala’s guest list:
- Shakira: A returning fashion showstopper who debuted at the 2024 Met Gala.
- Lizzo: Have attended the gala four times: 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024.
- Mary J. Blige: Attended the gala in 2021 and 2023.
- Amelia Gray: A returning Met Gala attendee who debuted in 2024.
- Ashley Graham: A regular attendee since 2017.
One of the most often asked questions about the 2025 Met Gala is whether Rihanna will attend. The legendary artist has made headlines plenty of times with her one-of-a-kind outfits, making her one of the most anticipated celebrities on the red carpet. Unfortunately, it is uncertain whether Rihanna will walk this year. Still, the chances are likely given her partner, A$AP Rocky, is a co-chair.
The Met Gala Tickets
Since the Met Gala is one of the most glamorous fashion events, it is highly exclusive and invitation-only. Rising and established celebrities, fashion icons, and high-profile individuals primarily attend this annual fundraising gala. Social media influencers have also walked down the red carpet at the event in recent years. Considering the event’s prominence, you can guess ticket prices to be sky-high. Individual tickets were priced at $75,000 in 2024, which may have risen this year.
However, not everyone can buy tickets to the Met Gala; they must first be invited. Anna Wintour and Vogue staff members decide on the guest list, considering guests’ relationships with fashion houses or renowned designers, cultural influence, and other factors. A person invited can bring their significant other to the event. Social media influencers, Metropolitan Museum of Art’s longtime benefactors, Vogue partners, and top-tier employees of famous fashion houses will also likely get invitations.
While the event is not open to the general public, they can watch it live through various platforms. Vogue will livestream the event on its official website and social media handles. Likewise, E! will broadcast the red carpet live through its social media accounts. You can also catch up with the show through YouTube, X, and TikTok.
Best Met Gala Looks
Since its inception in 1948, the Met Gala has evolved into a prestigious affair that attracts fashion icons, A-list celebrities, and other influential people. Many attendees have contributed to the fundraising gala’s success with their iconic looks. Here are the best Met Gala looks that surpassed everyone’s expectations:
Rihanna in China: Through the Looking Glass
Rihanna’s appearance at the Met Gala has always been ‘slay the house down boots.’ Her dramatic, bright yellow cape gown at the 2015 China: Through the Looking Glass is often regarded as her best outfit. The red carpet-winning attire weighed around 55 pounds and took 50,000 hours to make for Chinese designer Guo Pei. It perfectly complemented the year’s theme and cemented Rihanna and Pei’s presence in the fashion industry.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky in Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
Rihanna once again stole the Met Gala spotlight with her partner, A$AP Rocky, in 2023. The power couple created headlines with their perfectly put-together outfits. Rihanna wore an all-white Valentino gown with a pair of white cat-eye sunglasses. The highlight was a large hooded coat covered in patches in shades of oversized white camellias. On the other hand, Rocky rocked a head-to-toe Gucci ensemble, including a red plaid high-low kilt, black blazer, and jewel-encrusted denim pants.
Cardi B in Camp: Notes on Fashion
Rapper Cardi B chose fashion over comfort at the 2019 Met Gala. She owned that year’s Camp: Notes on Fashion theme with her custom Thom Browne gown, made from tulle and silk organza and decorated with 30,000 coque feathers. It also included a bodice with 44 carats worth of rubies. The most exaggerated part was the dress’s massive train, which required ten people to guide it down the red carpet.
Jenner Sisters in Camp: Notes on Fashion
Kendall and Kylie Jenner are no strangers to the Met Gala and have often delivered jaw-dropping appearances. Their best look was in the 2019 gala when both sisters wore dramatic feather-covered Versace gowns. Kendall wore a mermaid-inspired fiery orange dress with a plunging neckline and many feathers at the bottom. Kylie twinned with her sister by wearing a monochromatic purple crystal mesh gown with hand-painted ostrich feathers. She also wore a lavender wig to complement her look.
Zendaya in The Garden of Time
Actress Zendaya rocked the 2024 Met Gala with her back-to-back outfit changes. She arrived at the gala in a blue and green colored 1999 Dior gown with a feathered headpiece. Her dark makeup added a gothic and floral feel to her entire ensemble. Zendaya then changed into a 1996 Givenchy gown for the red carpet. The black dress featured a lengthy train, a full skirt, and off-the-shoulder sleeves. The actress complemented her outfit with a large, bouquet-like headpiece.
Claire Danes in Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology
No other attendees rocked the 2016 Met Gala theme as much as actress Claire Danes. Her Zac Posen dress initially looked simple, with its minimalistic design. However, the baby blue gown was made of custom fiber optic woven organza with thirty mini battery packs sewn into a thin organza lining. The result was a one-of-a-kind glow-in-the-dark dress that sparkled when the lights turned off.
Lady Gaga in Camp: Notes on Fashion
Leave it to Lady Gaga to own the Met Gala red carpet. The singer showcased four different looks simultaneously at the 2019 event. She first entered the red carpet in a giant, pink Brandon Maxwell dress with doll-like makeup and accessories, including a pink bow and giant lashes. She then removed her pink outfit to reveal another doll-like black gown with bows. Gaga’s third outfit change saw her in a pink column gown before she stripped down to her all-black lingerie.
Jennifer Lopez in China: Through the Looking Glass
Singer Jennifer Lopez went all out for her 2015 Met Gala look. The icon set the red carpet on fire with her sheer Donatella Versace gown. Also called the “Versace Naked Dress,” the intricately beaded red dress had an image of the dragon to complement that year’s China: Through the Looking Glass theme. The gown’s transparent feature showcased JLo’s curves and beauty. It is one of her most memorable looks throughout her Met Gala presence over the years.
Guided Tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
While you can’t attend the Met Gala without an invitation, you can still see the exhibition in the following months. The gala occurs on the first Monday of every May with a specific theme and dress code. That theme-based exhibition then runs for several months after the gala, usually until late summer or early fall. The 2025 Met Gala exhibition will be open to the public on May 10 and run through October 26. If you want to see those exhibits, head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Here we have handpicked highly-rated guided tours to assist you:
The Art of Stories: A Literary Tour in the Metropolitan Museum
- Duration: 2 hours
- Price: $50~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
We begin our list with The Art of Stories: A Literary Tour in the Metropolitan Museum. This two-hour itinerary offers a new insight into the Metropolitan Museum of Art through storytelling. As you stroll through the museum’s exhibits, your guide will share their backstories, how they originated, and their narratives. This can range from myths to fables, fairy tales, and epic quests. This interactive museum tour will keep you hooked from the beginning until the end.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Skip The Line Ticket + Highlights Tour
- Duration: 2 hours
- Price: €56.44~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
What could be better than skip-the-line tickets for visiting infamous attractions like the MET? This 2-hour package includes a skip-the-line ticket and tour of the museum’s highlights. You will enjoy direct access to the museum, where an exceptional experience awaits you. With this ticket, a knowledgeable guide will share information about the museum’s impressive works of art. You will see and learn the background of ancient Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and Impressionist masterpieces. This short itinerary is perfect for time-pressed travelers and first-time visitors.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Private 2-hour MET Guided Tour
- Duration: 2 hours
- Price: $225~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Non-refundable
If you don’t like activities with many participants, we have a perfect solution for you. This 2-hour private MET guided tour only lets your group participate. It also offers a flexible itinerary, where you can choose the time that fits your schedule. A private guide will wait for your group at the meeting point with prebooked tickets that allow you to skip the long line. Next, you will explore the museum with your guide and admire major exhibits like the Temple of Dendur. You can also customize the tour based on your art preferences and areas of interest.
Family Friendly Met tour Metropolitan Museum of Art Private Tour
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Price: $326.07~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Next, this family-friendly Met tour is ideal for families with kids and teenagers. This 2.5-hour Metropolitan Museum of Art private tour includes an expert guide who brings the art and history to life for all ages. The guide will lead the family through the museum’s most famous treasures while sharing fascinating stories about them. Visitors of all ages will be entertained on this engaging tour. This interactive activity is wheelchair-friendly and provides skip-the-line tickets.
NYC: Metropolitan Museum: “Secrets of the MET” Experience
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Price: $54~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Get ready for this 2.5-hour “Secrets of the MET” Experience at the Metropolitan Museum. It covers the museum’s top masterpieces as well as hidden gems. Your guide will reveal the MET’s best-kept secrets, such as the backstory of Madame X (the American Mona Lisa) and Washington crossing the Delaware painting. You will also uncover the secrets of the Ancient Egypt exhibits, such as mummies, royal treasures, and the Temple of Dendur. This tour also covers the museum’s top collections, including musical instruments, arms and armor, medieval collection, European paintings, Greek and Roman art, and sculptures.
Private Art and Crime Tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Price: $110~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Museum tours don’t have to be boring. This Private Art and Crime Tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a fascinating activity and a better alternative to usual museum tours. Participants will learn about various art crimes that have happened inside the MET. These include the seizure of paintings from museum walls, the entry of fake objects inside the museum, Nazi theft, and the looting of antiquities. You will also look at the MET’s questionable holdings, which some experts think might be inauthentic. This one-of-a-kind tour reveals the MET’s unknown history in all its glory.
#1 Met Museum & Central Park | Satisfaction Guaranteed | 8ppl Max
- Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Price: $238.50~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Elevate your experience with this combo tour of two of New York City’s headliners. Your first destination will be the MET, where you will check out nearly 2 million artworks and artifacts. Explore various galleries and learn about their stories from your guide. The second half of the tour includes visiting the famous Central Park. You will see filming locations and statues littered across this vast green space. Since this is a semi-private activity, the maximum group size is eight guests. Expect a more relaxed pace and personal attention from your guide.
Visit Met Museum of Art and See 30+ NYC Top Sights Tour
- Duration: 7 hours
- Price: $130~
- Ratings:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Free Cancellation
Finally, we have a half-day itinerary that includes the Metropolitan Museum of Art and 30+ of New York’s top sights. You will first explore the city’s renowned attractions on foot. Beginning with Wall Street, you will walk to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Little Italy, Chinatown, Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, Bryant Park, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. After the walking tour, you will visit the MET to see world-class art exhibits. This activity includes a 5-hour walking tour and a 2-hour museum visit. It provides a local guide to keep everyone entertained throughout the walking tour.
How To Get To The MET?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is centrally located and is easily accessible by private and public transportation. To reach the MET Fifth Avenue, here are the directions:
By Subway/Bus:
- From the East Side of Manhattan: Subway: Take the 4, 5, or 6 train to 86th Street and walk three blocks west for about ten minutes to Fifth Avenue. Bus: Take the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus along Madison Avenue to 83rd Street or along Fifth Avenue to 82nd Street.
- From the West Side of Manhattan: Take the 1 train to the 86th Street before riding the M86 crosstown bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue. Or, take the C train to 81st Street, then the M79 bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue.
- From the Met Cloisters: Take the M4 bus directly to 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue.
- From Penn Station: Ride the M4 bus to 83rd Street and Madison Avenue. Or, take the C local train to 81st Street before transferring to the M79 crosstown bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue.
By Car
- From the Met Cloisters, New England, Northern New Jersey, and Bronx: Take southbound Henry Hudson Parkway to 96th Street exit, cross Central Park, and turn right on Fifth Avenue. You can now enter the museum parking garage at 80th Street.
- From Brooklyn and Staten Island: Take the Williamsburg Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, or the Battery Tunnel to northbound/uptown FDR Drive. Next, exit at 96th Street, then proceed straight onto York Avenue. Turn right on 86th Street before turning left on Fifth Avenue. Finally, enter the museum parking garage at 80th Street.
Walking: You can easily access the MET’s location through Google Maps or use the MET’s interactive map to reach the museum.
By Sightseeing Bus: Visitors can choose from Gray Line NY Sightseeing Tours and CitySights NY Bus Tours.
The Met Gala is a highly anticipated event for celebrities and the general public. Its specific theme and dress code make it an opportunity to showcase one’s understanding of fashion through theme-related outfits, makeup, and accessories. High-profile attendees from fashion, music, sports, film, and politics make this gala more prestigious and glamorous than all the other fashion events. Stay tuned for this year’s Met Gala on the first Monday of May.
