Met Gala Themes 2015 to 2024
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has hosted the Met Gala annually since 2015 with a different exhibition theme each year. The 2015 theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass," the 2016 theme was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology," and the 2017 theme was "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between." The 2018 theme was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," the 2019 theme was "Camp: Notes on Fashion," the 2020 theme was "About Time: Fashion and Duration," the 2021 theme was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion," and the 2022 theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion." The 2023 theme was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," and the 2024 theme was "The Garden of Time." Each theme is tied to a major Costume Institute exhibition that opens at the same time, and the event is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. More details on the exhibition themes and dates are available on the official Met Gala website at Met Costume Institute.
The Met Gala is widely regarded as the most expensive and exclusive fashion event in the world. The 2024 gala reportedly charged $75,000 per ticket, and tables can cost up to $300,000 or more, according to reports from Forbes. The event is chaired by a prominent figure in fashion or entertainment each year, and the chair helps set the tone for the red carpet and the exhibition. Attendance is tightly controlled, with roughly 600 to 700 guests per year, and invitations are managed by the Costume Institute and Vogue under the direction of Anna Wintour. The gala is a major fundraiser for the Costume Institute, and ticket prices have risen sharply over the past decade, reflecting the event's global profile and brand partnerships.
Notable Designers, Celebrities, and Red Carpet Trends
Each Met Gala theme drives specific red carpet choices, with celebrities and designers creating looks that reference the exhibition. For the 2015 China theme, many guests wore elaborate Chinese-inspired gowns and accessories from designers such as Guo Pei, whose yellow cape became one of the most widely shared images of the decade. For the 2016 Manus x Machina theme, guests wore gowns with visible machine embroidery and 3D printed elements, highlighting the intersection of fashion and technology. For the 2018 Heavenly Bodies theme, many outfits referenced religious iconography, papal vestments, and sacred geometry, and the event generated extensive coverage from fashion outlets and social media platforms.
Red carpet impact is often measured by social media impressions, press coverage, and brand visibility. In 2019, the Camp theme led to playful, exaggerated silhouettes and references to Susan Sontag's 1964 essay "Notes on Camp," with guests including Lady Gaga, Billy Porter, and Zendaya generating some of the most viral moments of the decade. For the 2021 In America theme, many looks referenced American fashion history, sportswear, and regional styles, while the 2022 Anthology theme encouraged references to specific garments from the Met's collection. The 2023 Lagerfeld theme saw many guests channeling the late designer's signature aesthetic,