If you’re an avowed lover of fashion, there’s likely one space you’re watching every first Monday of May: the grand staircase of the Met Gala. Staged each year on the famed steps of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 56-year-old event, which, according to CBS News, launched in 1948 as “a midnight supper club known as The Costume Institute Benefit” entered its current iteration as an annual themed gala in 1973. Since that time, the annual showcase has aligned with showstopping exhibitions — and equally memorable fashion moments.
Like the fashion industry itself, many of the event’s most eye-catching moments are the result of Black influence. From Rihanna’s perennial shutting down of the carpet to Serena Williams’ 2023 pregnancy reveal, to 2024 co-chair Zendaya‘s fantastical appearances, to thought-provoking moments from Lil Nas X, Jeremy Pope, Lena Waithe and more, Black ingenuity has been at the heart of some of the gala’s most famous (and infamous) moments in recent years. So as our eyes turn to the Met’s steps this year, trust: We’re still rooting for everybody Black.
So, what should we be watching for this year? Aside from co-chair Zendaya, expected to create yet another Met Gala moment alongside fellow chairs Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, and Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour — and Rihanna, who has coyly teased she’ll be playing it cool this year, the event’s A-list crowd is expected to artfully interpret this year’s exhibition theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” — a nod to the 250 garments in the Costume Institute’s permanent collection which have been “reawakened” to celebrate their timeless craftsmanship. As an extension of that theme, the event’s dress code, “The Garden of Time,” was inspired by a 1962 short story of the same name, written by J.G. Ballard. While we may not know the full guest list for tonight’s festivities, what we can expect to see are sartorial tributes to the natural world — think florals, branches and earthly delights — and perhaps, the inevitable yet often beautiful process of decay. And as many understandably question both the enduring impact of the gala and the appropriateness of continuing such an extravagant event against the backdrop of a world that increasingly seems in peril, we may also see a few statements of protest — on and off the carpet.
So how will some of our favorite celebs — and their stylists — demonstrate their understanding of the assignment? We’ll be following the Met Gala throughout the evening, so watch this space.
Zendaya
Zendaya attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Law Roach
Law Roach attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Marleen Moise/Getty Images)
Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Gayle King
Gayle King attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Deborah Roberts
Deborah Roberts attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
La La Anthony
La La Anthony attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Aliah Anderson/Getty Images)
Chioma Nnadi
British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Chioma Nnadi attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Maleah Joi Moon
“Hell’s Kitchen” star Maleah Joi Moon attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
Tyla
Tyla attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Donald Glover
Donald Glover attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
J. Harrison Ghee
J. Harrison Ghee attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Ayo Edebiri
Ayo Edebiri attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Alton Mason
Alton Mason attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Wisdom Kaye
Wisdom Kaye attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Aya Nakamura
Aya Nakamura attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Taylor Russell
Taylor Russell attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
Bobby Digi Olisa and Laurie Cumbo
(Left to right) Bobby Digi Olisa and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Laurie Cumbo attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Aisha McShaw and Reverend Al Sharpton
(Left to right) Aisha McShaw and Reverend Al Sharpton attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Lena Waithe
Lena Waithe attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Olivier Rousteing
Olivier Rousteing attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Aurora James
Aurora James attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Serena Williams
Serena Williams attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Eboni Nichols and Queen Latifah
(Left to right) Eboni Nichols and Queen Latifah attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Da’Vine Joy Randolph attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Leon Bridges
Leon Bridges attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Damson Idris
Damson Idris attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Nnamdi Asomugha
Nnamdi Asomugha attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)