An array of A-list celebrities were spotted making their entrance at Anna Wintour’s exclusive pre-Met Gala dinner in New York City on Sunday, setting the stage for the much-anticipated event on Monday.
Among the arrivals was newly-engaged Zoe Kravitz, 37, who proudly displayed her stunning engagement ring from Harry Styles, 32, as she joined the festivities.
Kravitz, serving as a co-chair for the Met Gala Host Committee, donned an eye-catching ensemble featuring a textured mint sweater with a fur trim, layered over a vibrant yellow floral dress. She completed her chic look with a brown suede YSL clutch and transparent pointed-toe heels.
The Batman star’s engagement to the former One Direction singer comes after a whirlwind romance lasting eight months, according to reports.
Nicole Kidman, 58, exuded elegance as she arrived in a sophisticated black dress, perfectly paired with matching heels and stylish sunglasses. This year, Kidman shares the co-chair responsibilities with music icon Beyoncé and tennis legend Venus Williams.
Serena Williams, 44, made a fiery entrance in a dazzling red sequin gown, featuring a dramatic side slit and a backless design. The tennis superstar completed her stunning look with black Louboutin heels, adding an extra touch of glamour to the evening.
Zoe Kravitz, 37, and Nicole Kidman, 58, were among a number of A-list stars who were seen arriving at Anna Wintour’s pre-Met Gala dinner in New York City on Sunday
Serena Williams, 44, looked red hot in a fiery sequin gown with a sizzling side slit
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, falls on the first Monday in May every year.
The theme of this year’s event – widely considered the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets – is ‘Costume Art’, while the dress code is ‘Fashion Is Art.’
Serena’s sister, Venus, 45, stunned in a sleeveless beaded black and red gown at Sunday’s party.
She was joined by her dapper husband Andrea Preti, who wore a dark suit.
Sabrina Carpenter, 26, was also in attendance, wowing in a black silk dress with a sheer lace bodice.
Fashion icon Donatella Versace, 71, wowed in a glittering champagne gown. Her signature platinum blonde tresses were styled straight.
This year’s exhibit – set to unveil the Met’s sprawling new Conde M. Nast Galleries – has been made possible by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 62, and his wife Lauren Sanchez, 56, who are the lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs.
Bezos looked sharp in a grey suit and a black button-up shirt as he held hands with his wife while making his way to the pre-Met Gala dinner.
Meanwhile, Sanchez was elegant in a dark red jacket and long skirt paired with black heels.
The high-flying power couple allegedly paid $10 million for the privilege to hobnob with former Vogue editor-in-chief Wintour, along with a long list of other stars, according to Page Six.
The dress code at this year’s Met Gala calls on the A-list attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas.
Newly-engaged Kravitz was pictured flashing her massive engagement ring from Harry Styles, 32, as she made her way to the event
Kravitz wore a textured mint sweater with a fur trim over a yellow floral dress. She accessorized with a brown suede YSL clutch and clear pointed-toe heels
Williams showed off her toned legs in the revealing dress
The eye-catching look was backless. The tennis superstar completed her outfit with a pair of black Louboutin heels
Sabrina Carpenter, 26, was also in attendance, wowing in a black silk dress with a sheer lace bodice
The blonde bombshell styled her hair in bouncy curls
Venus Williams, 45, stunned in a sleeveless beaded black and red gown
She was joined by her dapper husband Andrea Preti, who wore a dark suit
The glittering gala’s lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs are Amazon founder and tech billionaire Jeff Bezos, 62, and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, 56
Sanchez was elegant in a dark red jacket and a long skirt paired with black heels as she and Bezos arrived to Sunday night’s dinner party
Bezos looked sharp in a grey suit and black boots
The couple held hands as they made their way inside
The high-flying power couple allegedly paid $10 million for the privilege to hobnob with former Vogue editor-in-chief Wintour, along with a long list of other stars
Fashion icon Donatella Versace, 71, wowed in a glittering champagne gown
Her signature platinum blonde tresses were styled straight
Leading the charge is a powerhouse trio of co-chairs, with Beyonce, Kidman and Williams joining forces with Vogue’s global editorial director Wintour to oversee fashion’s biggest night.
It’s the first time tennis superstar Williams has co-chaired the gala. Kidman previously co-chaired the star-studded event in 2003 as well as 2005, and Beyonce was an honorary chair in 2013.
The New York City museum will pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for the exhibition, which will be loosely divided into three categories, including the classical and the nude body, aging and pregnant bodies, and the anatomical body.
‘The title “Costume Art” refers to the history of the costume institute,’ Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s curator, said at a press conference.
Bolton, who selects the theme, said fashion has ‘the status of art because of, and not in spite of, its relation to the body.’
French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is also sponsoring the exhibit.
The 2026 Met Gala will also have a host committee that includes committee co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz, along with members Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Angela Bassett, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and more.
Costume Art will run from May 10, 2026 through January 10, 2027, following the Met Gala on May 4.
The Met Gala is a huge money-maker for the museum, and provides the Costume Institute with its main source of funding.
The 2026 Met Gala marks a major moment because it’s the first once since Wintour technically stepped back from one of her famed roles at the publication.
Anna Wintour has reigned supreme as the chairwoman of the Costume Institute benefit for over 30 years; Wintour seen at the 2025 Met Gala
Leading the charge is a powerhouse trio of co-chairs, with Beyonce, Kidman and Williams joining forces to oversee fashion’s biggest night; Beyonce seen at the 2016 Met Gala
In June, Wintour announced she was stepping down from one of her roles at Vogue after 37 years.
The global director for Vogue and global chief content officer at Conde Nast hired Chloe Malle as the new head of editorial content at Vogue.
Wintour has famously been incredibly hands-on with the Met Gala over the years, and is credited with making it the splashy A-list affair it has become, beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Zendaya and more.
Last year, many stars did not attend the Met Gala, and some people thought it was to avoid making a faux pas because of the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which was centered around the political and aesthetic constructs of Black dandyism.
