Met Gala 2026 is just on the doorstep, and the fashion world is just getting ready for a night where haute couture and opulence will be at their full glory. Some of the most famous names on the planet are set to grace the red carpet of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the world is expecting an unforgettable celebrity spectacle. But amidst the anticipation of a star-studded night full of glam and glitz, calls for a boycott have gained wind.

Some activists have been demanding a boycott on the most sacred night of fashion, and the reason is as apparent as the day.

The most famous fundraiser gala, which is scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, continues to be the main source of funding for the museum's Costume Institute, just as was intended from its genesis. However, in 2026, controversy - more especially, the presence of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos as the evening's primary sponsors and honorary chairs - has taken center stage instead of excitement over the red carpet extravaganza.

However, the millionaire couple's participation in the most glamorous night of the year has provoked demonstrations, boycott efforts, and obvious unrest within sections of the entertainment and fashion industries. When it was announced that Bezos and Sánchez, together with Condé Nast and Saint Laurent, would be the gala's primary sponsors, all hell broke loose.

The couple's key role in the event, as confirmed by the Met, which critics claim gives them control over invitations and the event's overall appearance, is the main reason for this kind of outburst. In light of Bezos' broader commercial activities, which included initiatives connected to individuals like Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, the boycott calls seem plausible.

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Notably, the calls are not coming from individual activists, but rather from a group that has previously pulled a similar stunt.

Everyone Hates Elon, a U.K.-based group that targets billionaires like Elon Musk, has been connected to the campaign. The New York Times was informed by an unnamed organizer that the group had already raised around $13,000-$19,000 for their campaign through internet fundraising. The same group earlier displayed a banner that said, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax," at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Italian wedding.

The Independent reports that flyers with the words "Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by the firm that powers ICE" and "Boycott the Bezos Met Gala" are being displayed close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, encouraging people to abstain from the event. On one hand, the Met Gala 2026 is all ready to dazzle the world with its closely guarded guest list, and on the other, there are elaborate efforts by a group trying to stop it from happening, turning the anticipation for the event into an anticipation for the verdict of this clash. 

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