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The Met Gala starts at 5:30 PM ET tonight in New York, bringing fashion’s biggest night to life. Red carpet arrivals kick off moments from now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Discover what to expect as A-list celebrities debut their “Fashion Is Art” interpretations.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Red Carpet Start: 5:30 PM ET at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City tonight
- Livestream Time: 6:00 PM ET (3:00 PM PT) exclusively on Vogue, YouTube, and TikTok
- Theme Directive: “Fashion Is Art,” celebrating the body as a canvas and designers as painters
- Co-Chairs: Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour leading the event
What Time Does the Met Gala Start Tonight?
Red carpet arrivals officially begin at 5:30 PM ET on May 4, 2026. However, Vogue’s official livestream kicks off at 6:00 PM ET for viewers nationwide. The Metropolitan Museum of Art steps in New York City will become the epicenter of fashion. Hosts Ashley Graham, Cara Delevingne, and La La Anthony will provide real-time commentary starting at the livestream hour.
Note that many celebrities arrive after the official start time, with stars like Rihanna famously running late. The red carpet typically extends until 8:00 PM ET, creating nearly three hours of nonstop fashion moments. For West Coast viewers, arrivals translate to 2:30 PM PT, while the Vogue livestream begins at 3:00 PM PT.
Met Gala starts at 5:30 PM in New York tonight with red carpet arrivals
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How to Watch the Met Gala Live Stream
Vogue dominates the exclusive broadcast of tonight’s event. The official livestream launches at 6:00 PM ET across multiple platforms including Vogue.com, YouTube, and TikTok. E! Entertainment also airs live coverage from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York at 6:00 PM ET. Viewers can catch behind-the-scenes access, celebrity interviews, and fashion breakdowns throughout the night.
Streaming is completely free on all major platforms, requiring no subscription. Yahoo, Getty Images, and other outlets will provide live updates simultaneously. The red carpet broadcast typically concludes by 9:00 PM ET, giving viewers approximately three hours of premier fashion coverage. Social media platforms will explode with real-time reactions and clip highlights.
Theme and Dress Code Explained
This year’s dress code, “Fashion Is Art,” invites guests to reimagine clothing as pure creative expression. The theme celebrates the Metropolitan Museum’s “Costume Art” exhibition, which explores how garments function as art objects. Guests are encouraged to treat their bodies as blank canvases and designers as master painters creating wearable masterpieces.
| Detail | Information |
| Theme Title | “Fashion Is Art” / Costume Art Exhibition |
| Dress Code Concept | Body as canvas, designer as painter |
| Exhibition Focus | Depictions of dressed body from art history |
| Notable Attendees | Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams |
“The 2026 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 4, kicking off at 5:30 PM local time in New York City, which is 11:30 PM in Paris.”
— The Met Gala Official Account, Event Organizers
Who’s Confirmed to Walk the Red Carpet
Beyoncé returns to the Met Gala after a 10-year hiatus, marking her comeback as co-chair. Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams join as co-hosts, bringing star power from Hollywood and sports. Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One legend, is confirmed alongside A’ja Wilson and other athletes blurring entertainment and athletics.
Notable boycott participants include Zendaya and Meryl Streep, who skipped the event over concerns about Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and wife Lauren Sánchez’s involvement. Despite this controversy, hundreds of confirmed celebrities are prepared to debut their interpretations of the “Fashion Is Art” directive. Anna Wintour, Vogue’s legendary editor, serves as principal co-chair alongside the star-studded lineup.
Will Fashion Ever Be More Daring Than Tonight?
The “Fashion Is Art” theme encourages unprecedented creative risks from designers and their muses. Previous years featured controversial interpretations, and this year promises bold statements, sculptural silhouettes, and wearable art installations. Expect capes, skirts on men, dazzling jewelry, and boundary-pushing aesthetics that blur gender norms and traditional fashion rules.
Will attendees embrace museum-quality garments that function more as fine art installations than everyday fashion? Tonight’s red carpet will reveal how celebrities interpret clothing as creative expression. Follow Vogue’s livestream starting at 6:00 PM ET to witness fashion history in real-time.
Sources
- Vogue – Official livestream host and Met Gala coverage authority
- NBC News – Comprehensive Met Gala 2026 preview and guest list details
- People Magazine – Co-chair confirmations and viewing guide information
