What Time Does the Met Gala Red Carpet End
The Met Gala red carpet typically concludes its main arrivals phase around 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with the official start of the dinner occurring shortly after 7:00 p.m. ET at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The carpet is generally considered closed once the final major celebrity arrivals have been photographed and the doors to the main event open, which usually happens by 8:00 p.m. ET. Coverage from major networks and outlets like Forbes often shifts to the interior of the event after this window. The precise cutoff depends on the pace of arrivals and the start time of the dinner, which is set by the Costume Institute.
While the physical red carpet period is short, the digital and social media coverage can extend well past the 8:00 p.m. ET end time. Outlets continue to publish live updates, photo galleries, and analysis until the first guests enter the main ballroom. The event itself, including dinner and the after-party, runs until approximately 1:00 a.m. ET, but the red carpet segment is the most time-sensitive portion. The Metropolitan Museum of Art enforces strict security protocols, and once the doors close to arrivals, the focus moves entirely inside the building.
How Long Is the Met Gala Red Carpet
The Met Gala red carpet is active for approximately 90 minutes, with the arrivals window typically starting around 6:00 p.m. ET and ending by 7:30 p.m. ET. This compressed timeline is designed to accommodate a high volume of celebrities while keeping the event on schedule for a dinner that begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. ET. The short window is a deliberate choice by the Costume Institute and the event organizers to maintain exclusivity and control the flow of arrivals.
The red carpet length at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is approximately 150 feet, which limits the number of guests who can be photographed simultaneously. Security and event staff manage the queue to ensure that arrivals are spaced out, contributing to the tight schedule. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's official website provides logistical details about the event setup, and the Costume Institute's planning is coordinated with the New York City police and fire departments to manage the crowd and timing precisely.
Where to Watch the Met Gala Red Carpet Live
The Met Gala red carpet is broadcast live on several major networks, with coverage typically starting at 6:00 p.m. ET. The main arrivals are shown on channels such as CNN and E!, which provide real-time commentary and analysis of the outfits. The live broadcast is also streamed online through the networks' official websites and apps, allowing global viewers to watch the arrivals as they happen.
For those relying on digital coverage, outlets like Vogue and Who What Wear provide live blogs that update continuously during the arrivals window. These live blogs often include embedded video clips and social media posts, offering a second-screen experience that runs parallel to the television broadcast. The live coverage ends when the red carpet is officially closed, usually around 7:30 p.m. ET, after which the focus shifts to the dinner and the interior of the event.