The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced Monday that the 2026 Met Gala theme will be 'The Garden of Time,' inspired by J.G. Ballard's 1962 short story of the same name. The first Monday in May event, co-chaired by Zendaya, Bad Bunny, and Anna Wintour, is expected to draw Hollywood's biggest stars for one of fashion's most anticipated nights.
The accompanying Costume Institute exhibition will explore fashion's relationship with time, decay, and preservation, featuring garments spanning five centuries alongside contemporary pieces from designers like Iris van Herpen, Alexander McQueen, and Thom Browne. Curator Andrew Bolton described the show as 'an investigation into how fashion freezes and distorts our perception of time.'
Fashion insiders are already speculating about what attendees will wear, with predictions ranging from elaborate floral gowns to avant-garde pieces incorporating decay motifs and clock imagery. The event typically raises over $15 million for the Costume Institute and has become one of the most photographed events in the world.
