How Do I Get an Invitation to the Met Gala?

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Can just anyone go, or is the event only for celebs?

Co-authored by Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Fact Checked

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Getting an Invitation

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Met Gala Crashers

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What is the Met Gala?

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Every year we watch A-list celebrities traipse across our laptop screens wearing glamorous ensembles at the Met Gala, and every year we wonder, How can I get an invite? Well, now we've got the answers. In this article, we'll explain how to get a ticket to the coveted and exclusive event, hosted by Vogue's Anna Wintour for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Plus…has anyone ever snuck into the Met Gala before? You betcha! Keep scrolling for a roundup of the best stories of folks who gate-crashed the Gala over the years.

Can anyone attend the Met Gala?

Alas, no. Not only are the $75,000 tickets to the Met Gala prohibitively expensive for most non-celebrities, but guests cannot attend without approval from Anna Wintour herself. Only around 600–700 guests attend, and not even the most famous celebrities can buy their way in—but having fame and fortune certainly helps.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Get an Invitation to the Met Gala

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The most talked-about celebs of the year are almost always present at the Gala, and while the guest list is usually top-secret until the night before the party, you can expect to see buzz-worthy stars like the cast of Bridgerton, this year's Grammy-winners, and other notable figures currently enjoying the limelight.^{[1]
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Research source} And certain famous stars are pretty much always in attendance, even if they're not currently doing anything noteworthy, like Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker—a fashion icon if there ever was one.
If you're performing at an event, naturally, that means you're invited to said event. That goes for wedding singers as well as Met Gala entertainers. We don't yet know who will be performing at the 2026 Met Gala, but past performers have included Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga.

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If you're not famous enough to score an invite yourself, your next-best option is to attend as a celebrity's plus-one. Dates and spouses of celebrities naturally get to accompany them to the event; Hailey Bieber only got to attend after getting involved with Justin, and now she's kind of a staple. Time to download Raya!
Similar to going as a celeb's plus-one, you could try dating someone who will be performing at the event, and then just…tag along. It's how Kim K. got an invite way back when: Anna Wintour refused to accept reality TV stars at her event, but when Kanye West attended as a performer, she naturally went as his plus-one and, well, she's been there ever since.
If you can't find a celeb to date, maybe becoming their publicist will land you an invite to the event—or at least to the red carpet, where you'll get to hold their bags and adjust their outfit for photos. You might not make it inside the event itself, since the guest list is typically capped at between 600–700, but it's something.^{[2]
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Remember when we said Wintour refused Kim Kardashian at first because she was a reality TV star? Well, the times, they are a-changin'. Nowadays, if you've scored internet fame—whether you're a YouTuber, brand ambassador, or TikTok influencer—it might just come with a ticket to the Met Gala. Recent attendees have included Addison Rae, Conan Gray, and Emma Chamberlain.
Major politicians often snag invites to the Met Gala, including Hilary Clinton and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (remember the infamous "Tax the Rich" dress?). Try running for office and maybe you'll eventually earn a coveted ticket to the Gala.
Working at Vogue is a major feat in and of itself, but not just any employee can snag an invite to the Met Gala. Work your way up to an important and relevant position—like the global head of fashion network, a role that's been occupied by Virginia Smith for decades—and it'll be that much easier to land an invitation.
Getting a job at Vogue is challenging enough, but if you can manage to score a job as a creative director at major design houses like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, or Chanel, you're as good as invited to the Met Gala, and can expect to accompany the celebs you've dressed.
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Make a huge donation to the Met. The Gala is first and foremost a charity event to raise money for the Met's Costume Institute. And while just buying one of the pricy tickets to the event isn't enough to secure a ticket—you still need Wintour's approval—making a hefty donation to the Institute is one way to get in her good graces.
- You've got to be pretty loaded to try this: a single ticket to the Gala can cost you $75,000, while a table for ten starts at about $350,000!^{[3]
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If you've crossed "work for Vogue" and "work for Gucci" off your list, you might be able to snag a role as a bartender, caterer, or other important employee the night of the event. Hey, Jeff Bezos ain't gonna serve himself…
It's no surprise that nepotism makes the world go round: Wintour's children Bee and Charles Shaffer have attended the Gala multiple times. But unless you can fake a DNA test or convince Wintour to adopt you (what a dream), you're probably out of luck here.

Section 2 of 3:

Met Gala Crashers Over the Years

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2014: Prankster Vitalii Sediuk crashes the Met in a mankini Sediuk tried to streak across the red carpet in a pink Borat-style mankini and leg warmers…but was tackled by security before he could accomplish his goal.
- When extraTV's Mario Lopez asked Sediuk, "What is wrong with you?" following the event, Sediuk said, "I don't think there's something wrong with me. I'm just a different guy who thinks differently." Fair enough.
As Buzzfeed reported, two anonymous women dressed as members of the press and took a sophisticated Uber Black to the Met's doors…only to be caught out before they could enter. They did, however, get an invite from a random stylist to what turned out to be the official Met Gala after-party…but they didn't realize that's what he was inviting them to, and they turned it down! That's the real tragedy, here, if you ask us.
As CNN reported on TikTok, he arrived fashionably late, was duly photographed sashaying across the carpet, and was asked, "What are you wearing?" (He did not answer.) The most glamorous night of his life came to a brutal end when he was accidentally stepped on. R.I.P.
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2025: Two women dress to impress before getting caught on the red carpet Security is pretty tight at the Met Gala, but two fashionable babes made it pretty darn far wearing their own clothes at 2025's event. In this reel by @uncledgar, the two women are shown walking the carpet and being asked, "What are you wearing?" The question is immediately followed by, "How did you get in?" Thus ends their short vacation at the Met Gala. Better luck next time, girls.
- So how do you sneak into the Met Gala? Not that we're advocating trespassing, but…as TikToker @johnnymurtaugh claims to have crashed numerous celebrity events, and as he explains, the most important thing to remember is, "You must have undeniable confidence that cannot be shaken." In other words, fake it 'til you make it!

Section 3 of 3:

What is the Met Gala, anyway?

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The Met Gala is an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The Gala, which is helmed by Vogue's Anna Wintour and takes place at the Met, is an extremely prestigious and exclusive fashion event, attended only by noteworthy guests with cultural relevance or brand affiliation. The event is typically timed to coincide with the opening of the Institute's spring fashion exhibition.^{[4]
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- What happens at the event is pretty secret, as guests are required to abide by a no-phone, no-pictures policy (not that guests always follow it), but generally, the event involves cocktails, dinner, and one or two high-profile performers. Guests are also given the opportunity to explore the new exhibit.
- Every Gala adheres to a specific haute couture theme: for instance, 2025's Gala theme was "Black Dandyism," 2022's theme was "Gilded Glamour," 2016's theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass," and 2013's theme was "Punk: Chaos to Couture."
- The 2026 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 4. The theme will be "Fashion Is Art."
- You can revisit some of the most unforgettable Met Gala looks on Vogue's website.