The 2026 edition of the Met Gala, an annual gathering of luxury and fashion presided over this year by billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos, took place on Sunday amidst protests against the opulence of the ultra-rich.
On this first Monday of May, the famous staircase of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) was transformed into a spring garden to welcome celebrities under a ceiling adorned with white wisteria.
Celebrities from the music industry, athletes, ultra-rich personalities, and Hollywood elite struck poses to display their flamboyant attire, with photographers capturing moments that would later ignite social media.
Stars like Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Doja Cat, Kim Kardashian, Madonna, and Cardi B appeared in eccentric outfits filled with artistic references, showcasing the fusion of fashion and art.
The event, held every first Monday of May, aims to raise funds for the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute. The upcoming exhibition will explore the relationship between clothing and bodies, hence this year’s theme: “Fashion is Art.”
The institution raised tens of millions of dollars for the event, thanks in part to the support of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who served as its honorary chair.
Bezos’ role in the event, shared with his wife, sparked outrage among activists who denounce the exclusivity and extravagance depicted by the gala.
A few weeks prior, a campaign calling for a boycott of the Met Gala in New York was launched by the organization “Everyone Hates Elon,” pointing out the connections between tech giants and former President Donald Trump.
Demonstrators gathered near the museum, chanting slogans like “Eat the rich,” “Tax the rich,” and “Bezos and the Epstein class are no longer in style.”
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced he would skip the gala this year to focus on affordability issues in the city.
Former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour emphasized that her friend Lauren Sanchez Bezos and her husband are genuinely committed to serving the community.
Well-known for her Halloween costumes, Heidi Klum appeared as a lifelike statue, while Beyoncé made a stunning return in a skeletal dress by French designer Olivier Rousteing. Heidi Klum, in her eccentric fashion, transformed into a hyper-realistic statue inspired by Italian sculptor Raffaele Monti.
Last year, the renowned museum on 5th Avenue raised a record $31 million with a theme centered on Black diaspora fashion in the United States.
With input from CBC, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.
