It may be one of the biggest nights of the year, but the Met Gala is also one of fashion’s greatest mysteries.
The annual fundraising event for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most anticipated events on the fashion calendar. It’s long been rumoured that each attendee is required to be signed of by Anna Wintour herself and accordingly, for a celebrity, hitting those famous stairs garbed in a (hopefully on-theme) designer look is a sign you’ve made the A-list.
But after the stars have walked the red carpet, completed the obligatory interview with Emma Chamberlain and made their way inside the gala, what happens? Scroll on for a look behind the Gala’s gilded doors as we break down what actually goes on inside.
What Do Celebrities Do At the Met Gala?
Famously, celebrities arrive at the Met Gala via the stairs, arriving at the bottom and fronting the camera pit as they make their way to the top.
The event reportedly begins with a formal meet-and-greet with the hosts at the door, before guests are led around the Costume Institute’s new exhibit, which the Gala gets its theme from. They are also given time to mingle and enjoy a cocktail hour, before moving elsewhere for a formal, sit-down dinner. As highlighted in the documentary The First Monday In May, the seating chart is planned and approved by Wintour herself. The dinner will be accompanied by live performances. In the past this has included shows from Kacey Musgraves, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Lizzo and more.
It goes without saying that among all that, the stars all rub shoulders. Throughout the years, we have been privy to many an A-list bathroom selfie (in spite of the famous no-phone policy), shared by celebrities on social media.
Afterwards, they all make their way to the various afterparties hosted by brands and other stars throughout the city.
What Do People Eat At the Met Gala?
In 2021, Keke Palmer alerted the public to the alleged quality of the Met Gala meals when she uploaded a photo of what appeared to be some corn, tomatoes and risotto captioned, “This why they don’t show y’all the food.” While Palmer added that she was just joking, it certainly got the internet talking about the kind of meals they might serve at the event and the Met menu has remained an annual talking point on X in the years since.
Since 2021, the Gala has involved celebrity chefs in the planning of its meals and while the menu changes each year, it tends to be fresh and consist of several courses. To give you an idea, Vogue shared that the 2023 offering included chilled spring pea soup with baby vegetables, lemon crème fraîche and truffle snow, and Ōra King salmon with vegetable nage, asparagus, pickled strawberries and radish.
Per the New York Post, the use onion, garlic and parsley are banned due to bad breath, as is bruschetta, for fear it might spill on a guest’s outfit.
In 2022, chef Melissa King told The Cut that the menu took a few months to plan. She added that there were “certainly a lot of emails,” given the glitterati’s various dietary requirements, and that there was always an alternate vegan option available. She also added that the rumour no one eats at the event is untrue, telling the publication, “I definitely saw everyone eating.”
Can Anyone Go To the Met Gala?
If you’re hoping to pay your way into the biggest event of the year, we have some bad news. Unfortunately, the Met Gala is invite-only.
How Much Do Met Gala Tickets Cost?
Even though the Met Gala is invite-only, attendees still have to pay for a ticket—it is a fundraiser, after all!
The New York Times reports that guests can expect to fork out US$75,000 for a single ticket or US$350,000 for a table. However, celebrities don’t typically buy their own entry. Instead, they’re often invited by fashion or tech brands who will pay for their way.
