10:52, 05 May 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Met Gala weekend is probably the most anticipated fashion event of the year. Happening every year on the first Monday in May. The event floods social media timelines with photos of celebrity outfits, turning online audiences into fashion critics.
And this year was no different.
But despite being a fun and fabulous night in pop culture, this year actually had some notable highlights.
For those that are reading this and don’t know, The Met Gala is an annual charity fundraiser. The event is to raise money for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art based in New York. This year has raised a record $42 million, successfully surpassing the $31million raised last year.
While we might be tempted to say “about time” given how long it has taken for such barriers to fall, this milestone deserves its own dedicated spotlight. Model and activist Aariana Rose Philip became the first wheelchair user to attend this prestigious event is more than just a personal achievement; it shows an ever evolving and more inclusive industry.
The 2026 Met Gala exhibition, “Costume Art,” represents a major shift in fashion representation by moving beyond traditional "size 2" standards to showcase a new ensemble of 25 3D-printed mannequins based on real-life, diverse body types.
Featuring figures with dwarfism, paraplegic, and trans identities, alongside pregnant and aging silhouettes, the exhibition exudes the concept that fashion belongs to every body. By partnering these custom forms with 400 artworks and replacing mannequin faces with mirrors, the display, curated by Andrew Bolton, connects historical garments to modern, inclusive lived experiences.
