The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host its annual Costume Institute benefit tonight, known widely as the Met Gala, with a focus this year on Black style. The event serves as a major fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute.
The 2025 event's theme is "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," coinciding with the spring exhibition the gala supports. The official dress code for attendees is "Tailored for You."
This year's event features a lineup of hosts from the worlds of film, sports, and fashion. Co-chairs include actor Colman Domingo, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky, producer and designer Pharrell Williams, and Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will serve as an honorary chair for the evening. A host committee featuring names such as André 3000, Ayo Edebiri, Spike Lee, and designer Dapper Dan is also participating.
The exhibition explores the connection between clothing, style, and Black identities. Guest-curated by Monica Miller, it draws inspiration from her book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
Miller has discussed the historical roots of Black dandyism, noting moments when Black individuals adapted or reinterpreted styles, including instances where clothing was initially used by slave-owners to display wealth.
The exhibition will be the first at The Costume Institute in over 20 years specifically focusing on menswear.
Red carpet arrivals for the invite-only event are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Tickets for individual attendance at the gala cost $75,000 last year, with the guest list being highly exclusive. A strict no-phones policy is traditionally enforced inside the venue.
The inside portion of the event includes a party, dinner, music, and a private viewing of the Costume Institute's new exhibition before it opens to the public.
