Hailed with complete objectivity as fashion’s most iconic event of the year, the Met Gala returns for 2026 — held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Taking place on the first Monday of May (US time), this year’s gala falls on May 4th, meaning an early morning of glamour for Australians on Tuesday, May 5th.
Each year the Met Gala theme becomes the north star of the red carpet moments and this year will be no exception, with celebrities interpreting “Costume Art” in spectacular style.
Beyond the fashion lies a legacy of zeitgeist-defining moments: Jared Leto carrying a replica of his own head, Rihanna announcing her third pregnancy with A$AP Rocky, and Zendaya lighting up the carpet in a Cinderella-inspired gown.
And 2026 is shaping up to be just as pivotal, with Beyoncé returning to the Met Gala after a decade away from the red carpet. The Crazy in Love singer is one of four co-chairs, alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.
With this year’s red carpet already shaping up to be a must-see spectacle, you’ll want to tune in bright and early.
Australian viewers can watch the 2026 Met Gala live through Vogue, which once again hosts the official livestream. The broadcast will be available globally via Vogue’s website and its digital platforms, including YouTube and social media channels.
The livestream focuses on the red carpet arrivals, featuring interviews with celebrities and designers as they step onto the Met’s famous staircase. While the gala itself remains a private event, the red carpet coverage provides the defining moments that dominate headlines and social feeds.
If you are unable to tune in live, highlights and key fashion moments are typically published shortly after the event across entertainment and fashion platforms.
The Met Gala red carpet officially opens at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, May 4, 2026. Celebrities begin arriving on the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art steps from 5:30 PM ET.
For Australians, the timezone conversion translates to Tuesday, May 5 at 8:00 AM AEST for those in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. See the full time conversion below:
| Location | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| New York (ET) | 6:00 PM | Monday, May 4 |
| Sydney (AEST) | 8:00 AM | Tuesday, May 5 |
| Melbourne (AEST) | 8:00 AM | Tuesday, May 5 |
| Brisbane (AEST) | 8:00 AM | Tuesday, May 5 |
| Adelaide (ACST) | 7:30 AM | Tuesday, May 5 |
| Perth (AWST) | 6:00 AM | Tuesday, May 5 |
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