Nicole Kidman, Lauren Sanchez Bezos and Anna Wintour arrive for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Image: ANGELA WEISS / AFP
Fashion's biggest night out just got a whole lot more expensive. Before the A-list stars even finished posing on the famed red carpet, the 2026 Met Gala had already shattered financial records, pulling in an astonishing $42 million.
To put that massive number into perspective, the star-studded event brought in $31 million in 2025. An amount that was actually the previous all-time high for the Costume Institute's glamorous annual fundraiser.
So, how exactly does a single event bring in $42 million?
For starters, the price of admission took a serious hike this year.
Securing an individual ticket to the 2026 gala cost a jaw-dropping $100,000, while reserving a table maintained its staggering starting price of $350,000.
But ticket sales are only part of the equation when you have mega-wealthy benefactors stepping in to foot the bill.
This year's financial leap was heavily driven by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who served as the lead sponsors for the spring "Costume Art" exhibition and stepped up as honorary co-chairs alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.
The high-profile couple reportedly forked out at least $10 million to sponsor the night.
However, some industry insiders whisper that their actual contribution might have reached $15 million.
This year's financial leap was heavily driven by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who served as the lead sponsors for the spring "Costume Art" exhibition.
Image: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images via AFP
While their massive financial injection was undeniably crucial for the museum, it wasn't without its fair share of drama.
The Bezos sponsorship sparked noticeable controversy among fashion purists who felt the event was becoming too transactional.
The billionaire's involvement also led to organised protests outside the museum, with critics pointing to the stark contrast between the gala's immense wealth and the alleged gruelling working conditions of Amazon delivery drivers.
Despite the behind-the-scenes rumblings, the night remained squarely focused on cementing fashion's rightful place in the fine art world.
Met director and CEO Max Hollein highlighted this mission by showing off the newly unveiled Condé M. Nast Galleries.
Located in a prime main-floor spot at the centre of the museum, these new galleries feature two dedicated exhibition spaces. One honouring designer, Thom Browne, and another named for Michael Kors and Lance Le Pere.
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