The 2025 Met Gala is finally here, ready to transform New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art into a dazzling showcase of fashion, culture, and celebrity. With a record-breaking $31 million raised for the Costume Institute before the event even began, this year’s Met Gala is already making headlines. Here’s your complete guide to the timing, theme, red carpet schedule, and exclusive details about what to expect from tonight’s event.
What Is the Met Gala?
Held annually on the first Monday of May, the Met Gala is an invitation-only fundraising gala for the benefit of The Met’s Costume Institute. Since 1948, it has grown into one of the most prestigious events in the fashion world, often dubbed “fashion’s biggest night.” Guests pay—or are sponsored for—$75,000 per ticket to attend the ultra-exclusive affair. The evening marks the grand opening of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, which this year opens to the public on May 10.
2025 Theme and Dress Code: A Celebration of Tailored Black Style
This year’s theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, a nod to the historical and contemporary influence of Black designers and fashion icons on tailoring and structured silhouettes. The dress code is aptly titled “Tailored for You”, encouraging bespoke creations and sharply cut elegance.
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The theme aligns with the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, which showcases archival and contemporary garments from Black fashion designers, from Dapper Dan to Ozwald Boateng, and honors how tailoring has expressed identity, resistance, and innovation.
Who Are the 2025 Co-Chairs and Special Guests?
The Met Gala’s 2025 co-chairs reflect a dynamic blend of fashion, activism, music, and sport:
- Colman Domingo – Acclaimed actor and style icon
- Lewis Hamilton – Formula 1 driver and fashion entrepreneur
- A$AP Rocky – Rapper and streetwear trendsetter
- Pharrell Williams – Music producer and Louis Vuitton menswear creative director
- Anna Wintour – Vogue Editor-in-Chief and the event’s long-standing authority
LeBron James will serve as honorary chair, and a host committee of 25 additional celebrities will support the evening’s coordination and visibility.
What Time Do Red Carpet Arrivals Begin?
The red carpet officially opens at 5:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 5, outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue.
The steps of The Met are transformed each year with custom carpeting and floral arrangements. While the color of the carpet changes yearly—2023 featured a white carpet with blue and red swirls, while 2024 opted for off-white and green—the steps remain the most iconic photo backdrop in fashion.
Red Carpet Timeline: Who Arrives and When?
Although the red carpet opens at 5:30 p.m., arrivals continue well into the evening, with no set end time. Stars are notoriously unpredictable about their entrance times. Some arrive promptly, while others, like Rihanna, make fashionably late entrances that become part of the night’s lore. In fact, when asked who’s allowed to be late, Anna Wintour once replied, “Rihanna.”
In 2024, Zendaya stunned the crowd not once, but twice—arriving early in an ocean-blue gown, only to return at 9 p.m. in a rarely seen Givenchy couture look from the archives, complete with a rose-studded vintage hat.
Where to Catch the Met Gala Coverage
Fans can watch CBS News New York’s special Met Gala coverage beginning at 8 p.m., hosted by Ali Bauman. Coverage will include live arrivals, fashion analysis, and interviews with celebrities directly from the Met steps.
Additionally, social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) will be overflowing with real-time updates, while Vogue’s own livestream typically offers an insider’s view.
Inside the Met Gala: What Happens After the Cameras Stop Rolling?
While red carpet images flood the internet, the Met Gala dinner and party that follows is shrouded in mystery. Cell phones and social media usage are reportedly banned inside the venue—an unofficial rule rigorously enforced by Wintour and her team.
Here’s what’s generally known:
- Guests explore the exhibition before it opens to the public
- A curated multi-course dinner is served, inspired by the event’s theme
- A surprise musical performance is almost always featured
- Past performers include Rihanna, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Madonna, and Frank Ocean
For 2025, rumors swirl about a surprise set from André 3000 or a possible reunion of OutKast, though nothing has been confirmed.
Last Year’s Dinner Menu vs. 2025 Speculation
In 2024, the Met Gala served:
- Spring vegetable salad
- Beef filet with tortellini rose
- A dessert named the “Not-So-Poison Apple”, echoing the “Sleeping Beauties” theme
This year, based on the tailoring theme and celebration of Black heritage, insiders expect a menu drawing inspiration from the African diaspora, possibly featuring Creole, Caribbean, or Southern US flavors with an haute cuisine twist.
Where Do Celebrities Get Ready Before the Gala?
A majority of attendees prep for the event at The Mark Hotel, just blocks away from The Met. Paparazzi often camp outside this luxury venue for early glimpses of couture gowns, designer teams, and glam squads in action.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend the Met Gala?
As of 2025, an individual ticket costs $75,000, and a full table can run upwards of $350,000–$500,000, depending on placement and sponsorship.
While designers and brands often cover the costs for celebrities in exchange for exclusive dress partnerships, the price tag reflects the exclusivity of the event. The money goes directly toward the Costume Institute’s operational budget and exhibitions.
Looking Ahead: What Will the 2025 Met Gala Mean for Fashion?
Fashion critics and historians are already calling this year’s theme one of the most significant in recent history, as it brings long-overdue visibility to Black tailoring traditions. The theme encourages the industry to reflect on and celebrate cultural craftsmanship, identity, and representation in high fashion.
Designers to watch include:
- Wales Bonner
- LaQuan Smith
- Christopher John Rogers
- Ozwald Boateng
- Dapper Dan
Their presence could mark a definitive shift in who shapes fashion narratives at one of the world’s most elite style stages.
Final Notes: Expect Elegance, Drama, and Cultural Commentary
The 2025 Met Gala promises to be a breathtaking, statement-making night full of sharp silhouettes, political undertones, and boundary-pushing fashion. Whether you’re tuning in for the fashion, the performances, or the cultural conversations that follow, one thing is clear: the Met Gala remains fashion’s most-watched spectacle.
