The Met Gala is undoubtedly fashion’s biggest night. Every arrival, every outfit is an instant global discussion point. With excitement now building for the 2026 edition, fans want to know how they can see the action live. From red carpet coverage to streaming options and timings- there’s a lot to keep up with. These details are just as important as the fashion itself. 

With the event around the corner, the question is when exactly the gala starts and when the red carpet arrivals begin. 

The 2026 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 4, at 6:00 p.m. EST or 3:00 p.m. PST. Guests will start to arrive from 5:30 p.m. ET. The official Vogue live-stream on YouTube will also start at the same time. Other media outlets will begin their coverage from 6 p.m. EST. 

Amidst all this, another important question is where the red carpet coverage can be watched live. 

Unfortunately, the main gala is not filmed. Additionally, guests are also not allowed to use their phones during the event. However, viewers can catch the red carpet portion of the evening on the official Vogue Met Gala website, which will be available on YouTube and TikTok. Actress La La Anthony, model Ashley Graham, and actress Cara Delevingne will host the official live-stream.

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Some media outlets will also stream their coverage on YouTube. Additionally, E! will be hosting the Met Gala live-stream called "Live From E!: Met Gala 2026." The coverage will also start at 6 p.m. EST or 3 p.m. PST. The event can be streamed on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Peacock.

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Amidst these, fans also want to know about the theme, co-chairs, and key details surrounding the event. 

The Met Gala theme is always inspired by the upcoming exhibition at the Costume Institute. This year, the Costume Institute's spring exhibition is "Costume Art”. Hence, the dress code or the theme is “Fashion Is Art.” The theme is set to inspire the attendees to use their outfits as a form of artistic expression while contemplating the “inherent relationship between clothing and the body.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has invited guests to forge their unique three-way relationship between the body, fashion, and art through studying the history of fashion seen in art. To support the event, Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz will lead the host committee.

The committee also includes Sam Smith, Angela Bassett, Alex Consani, Teyana Taylor, Elizabeth Debicki, Adut Akech, Lena Dunham, Doja Cat, Rebecca Hall, Aimee Mullins, Misty Copeland, Chloe Malle, Lauren Wasser, Gwendoline Christie, Paloma Elsesser, Amy Sherald, Chase Sui Wonders, Anna Weyant, Sinéad Burke, Yseult, Tschabalala Self, A’ja Wilson, and LISA. 

All in all, the 2026 Met Gala is set to once again be a night full of fashion, imagination, and star power. The red carpet provides many moments for viewers from all over the world to enjoy, even though the main event is off-camera and exclusive. This year’s gala will be a global attraction once again with multiple live-stream options and a theme celebrating bold artistic expression. 

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With timings, live-streams, and a bold theme in place, will the 2026 Met Gala once again dominate global attention?