What Time Does the Met Gala Start? Where Can You Watch It for Free?

Published 05/01/2026, 3:06 PM CDT

The most exclusive red carpet in the world is about to transform Manhattan into a living museum where fashion and fine art collide. Witnessing the historic return of global icons to the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps without spending a dime. This year, the event boasts a powerhouse lineup of co-chairs, including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.

As the Costume Institute kicks off its Costume Art exhibition, the evening will focus on the creative relationship between the human form and textiles. As the countdown begins, fans everywhere are eager to secure their virtual front-row seat.

The most exclusive red carpet in the world is about to unfold before a massive global audience.

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Watching the 2026 Met Gala live and free

The 2026 Met Gala is set to ignite the fashion world on Monday, May 4. The official red-carpet coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. EST and is accessible through several streaming platforms for those without traditional cable. E! News will host the primary broadcast, Live From E!: Met Gala 2026, and Live From E! Stream: Met Gala livestream online.

Live From E!: Met Gala 2026 can be viewed for free by utilizing trial periods on services like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV. DirecTV offers a five-day trial, while Hulu + Live TV provides a three-day window, both of which are perfect for capturing every arrival. Peacock serves as another major hub for the event, offering specialized coverage directly from the museum steps and Lincoln Center.

Red carpet analysts, including Christian Siriano and Chris Appleton, will provide expert commentary throughout the night. They will be joined by hosts like Justin Sylvester and Keltie Knight to break down the artistic intent behind each celebrity look. Because the subsequent dinner and performances are private, these livestreams are the only way for the public to participate in the fashion industry's most prestigious night.

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The guest list for this year features a mix of legendary veterans and the newest sensations in pop culture.

A star-studded guest list and artistic style predictions

The 2026 guest list is generating massive buzz, especially with the anticipated return of Beyoncé after a ten-year hiatus from the event. Attendees like Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, and Teyana Taylor are expected to bring bold interpretations of the artistic theme to the steps. Rumors continue to swirl regarding a potential debut appearance by the members of BTS, as mentioned by WWD.

Fashion experts predict the Fashion Is Art dress code will inspire sculptural silhouettes and garments that mimic famous museum masterpieces. Expect to see heavy use of embroidery, sheer fabrics, and gravity-defying hairstyles that treat the human body as a canvas. Since the gala encourages extreme self-expression, many guests will likely move away from traditional gowns.

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Honorary chairs Jeff and Lauren Sánchez Bezos will lead the celebration alongside a diverse group of cultural icons and Hollywood elite. From the Kardashians to rising stars like Sarah Pidgeon, the evening will be a masterclass in how modern celebrities influence global style trends. Whether tuning in for the viral fashion moments or the celebrity sightings, the 2026 Met Gala remains the ultimate intersection of culture and creativity.

From Rags to Relics: The 2026 Met Gala Theme to Turn Fashion Into Museum-Worthy Sculpture

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What do you think about watching Met Gala 2026 from your comfort zone? Let us know in the comments.

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Soma Mitra

1265 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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