Met Gala 2025 is slowly approaching. We’re only a little over a week out from fashion’s biggest night and with that comes the constant ruminating. From trying to figure out which of our favorite celebs will be on the coveted invite list to seeing who will actually be on theme, there are a million and one questions floating around on the internet about one of the most exclusive celebrity events of the year.
Every first Monday in May, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City transform into a glittering runway for the world’s most exclusive fashion event — the Met Gala. Officially known as the Costume Institute Benefit, this fundraiser for the Met’s fashion wing isn’t just a party — it’s a cultural moment for fashion and opulence, and a main stage for internet meme fodder. But more than anything, the Met Gala is the annual fashion event with one of the most tightly-curated guest lists that the internet is always wondering about. “Why didn’t they invite my favorite celebrity?” “Why isn’t Zendaya at the Met Gala this year?” “Why was Addison Rae invited?” We see the questions online every year and there’s a few simple answers for all of them. If you’ve ever wondered how to get an invite or who gets to attend the Met Gala, then we’ve got the inside scoop right here for you.
You Can Sit With Us
The main way into the Met Gala as a celebrity is being invited by a fashion house or organization. An individual ticket to the Met Gala can reportedly go for thousands of dollars, but celebrities tend to go for free courtesy of a brand. Think Met Gala 2024. Madelyn Cline attended on behalf of Tommy Hilfiger. Major fashion houses such as Gucci, Prada, Balenciaga, and Louis Vuitton often buy tables at the event and fill them with A-list celebrities, influencers, artists, athletes, and cultural tastemakers. These guests are carefully selected — usually brand ambassadors, campaign stars, or personalities the label wants to align itself with.
We also will see organizations like Meta purchase a table. In 2022, Instagram bought a table and invited celebrities like Kris Jenner, Chloe Bailey, and Sabrina Carpenter. The non-fashion house route often gives the celebs more freedom in the outfits they wear and can lead to a larger range of invites. TikTok star Avani Gregg attended that year with Instagram, marking her first Met Gala.
And beyond fashion houses and organizations, some years celebrities will sponsor tables. In 2021, F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton (who is also a Met Gala 2025 cochair) paid for a table himself and invited emerging Black designers to attend. Hamilton invited designers Kenneth Nicholson, Edvin Thompson of Theophilio and Jason Rembert of Aliette, which marked a very significant moment for uplifting Black voices in fashion.
So, when it comes to seeing your fave celebrities on the illustrious Met Gala steps, it comes down to their brand relations and the big-money spenders willing to take them. And while a table purchase guarantees attendance, Vogue Editor in Chief and Met Gala Co-Chair Anna Wintour still must approve every person you plan to invite to sit at your table.
Behind the Scenes
If you’re a young person attending fashion school or living in New York City, there are other ways into the Met Gala. It takes a village to put on fashion’s biggest night, which requires volunteers to work on the public relations and production side of things. Not all Met Gala attendees walk the red carpet — some work behind it. PR agencies, event producers, fashion house communications teams, and museum staff all play critical roles in pulling off the night. These positions are competitive, and many workers are seasoned professionals or interns from top-tier programs with connections.
Working the event doesn’t mean partying with Rihanna, but you will witness the spectacle up close — from managing check-ins to escorting celebrities or setting up equipment. Internships and volunteering through the Met Museum or affiliated brands can be a golden ticket for those dreaming of a future in fashion.
No Kids Allowed
If you’re like us you’ve probably hoped that when Kim Kardashian had North West in the car with her on the way to the Met Gala, the 11-year-old would be stepping out of the vehicle and walking the steps with her, but that unfortunately will not happen. The Met Gala is typically an 18-and-over affair. This is because of the event’s nature and late-night after-parties — meaning even the most famous teen influencers have to wait until adulthood for a shot at the stairs. So while we know Blue Ivy would kill it, there’s a reason she won’t be invited to attend the Met Gala just yet.
