Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Met Gala

Brace for impact: The 2023 Met Gala is almost here. This year is dedicated to the legendary Karl Lagerfeld, and ever since the exhibition was announced in September, there has been endless speculation of exactly how the world’s biggest stars, supermodels, designers, and creatives will pay tribute to the late designer. With a career that spans six decades and a nearly 40-year tenure at Chanel, there is no shortage of inspiration for Hollywood’s A-list to pull from. The annual fundraiser has become one of the most anticipated events for star-gazing in recent years, delivering unforgettable, often over-the-top style moments while raising millions of dollars for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here, every last detail you need to know about the 2023 Met Gala, including its star-studded hosts, how to watch the red carpet live, and who made the guest list (and who did not).

What is the theme of the 2023 Met Gala?

On Friday, September 30, 2022, it was revealed that the 2023 Met Gala would honor the late Karl Lagerfeld with the theme “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” Of course, the coinciding exhibition will showcase the designer’s work throughout his 65-year career. About 150 pieces from Lagerfeld’s time at Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, Chanel, and his eponymous label will be on display, as will accompanying sketches detailing the designer’s “unique methodology.” The exhibition will open on May 5, the Friday following the Gala, and will run through July 16.

What is the 2023 Met Gala dress code?

Considering the theme of the event and exhibit, it’s fitting, then, that the dress code for the Gala is “In honor of Karl.” This doesn’t necessarily mean every attendee will be wearing Lagerfeld’s pieces, though there are many to choose from, and likely a lot of guests will go this route, pulling from Chanel, Fendi, and maybe even the Patou and Chloé archives. Those wishing to work with current designers, however, will likely just take inspiration from both Lagerfeld’s expansive portfolio and his own idiosyncratic personal style. So, expect to see a lot of black ties, starched collars, and perhaps white ponytails, as well as a handful of fingerless gloves and maybe one or two Choupette references on the red carpet this year.

When is the 2023 Met Gala?

Per usual, the Met Gala will be held on the first Monday in May, which this year falls on the first. What better way to start off the month than with fashion’s biggest night?

Who’s hosting the 2023 Met Gala?

This year, Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer, and Dua Lipa, along with Anna Wintour, are the Gala’s official co-chairs. This array of stars really encompasses all types of celebrity. Federer is one of tennis’s all-time greats, and though he announced his retirement last year, he still remains a representative of the sport, as well as a public figure thanks to his many endorsement deals, business partnerships, and philanthropic efforts. Lipa, of course, is one of the world’s biggest pop stars and a three-time Grammy winner who recently finished off her Future Nostalgia tour. She has also become a bonafide fashion It-girl as of late, often wearing looks just days after they walk the runway, and harboring relationships with the world’s most sought-after designers.

Then there are the Hollywood stars in Coel and Cruz. Coel represents an up-and-coming, multi-faceted talent, thanks to the success of her two shows, I May Destroy You and Chewing Gum. Last year, she starred in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and used the press tour for the film to prove her fashion chops. And, of course, there’s Cruz, a bonafide A-lister but also a Chanel girl through and through. She has been an ambassador for the fashion house since 2018 and helped to close out Chanel’s fall 2019 show, Lagerfeld’s last for the brand.

As Vanessa Friedman pointed out, this is the first time in a while that the hosting squad doesn’t include a designer or business insider of any sort. Tom Ford held that role for the past two Galas, with Gucci’s former creative director Alessandro Michele acting as a host in 2019. Including Virginie Viard, the current creative director of Chanel, may have been the obvious choice, but alas no designer was included this year.

Who will be at the 2023 Met Gala?

The guest list is always a closely guarded secret, but it’s safe to assume that there will be several Chanel ambassadors in attendance, among them Margot Robbie, Lily-Rose Depp, Kristen Stewart, Blackpink’s Jennie Kim, and Margaret Qualley. In addition, you can probably expect the Gala mainstays like Blake Lively, Sarah Jessica Parker, and the usual model contingent of Bella and Gigi Hadid, Paloma Elsesser, and Hailey Bieber. Last year, the Kardashians came out in full force, however, there was speculation that they might all be snubbed this time around. Kim Kardashian squashed those rumors on Wednesday, April 26, when she posted a picture of herself on Instagram with Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette. “Had a date with @choupetteofficiel in Paris. We then spent some time at @karllagerfeld’s office to get a little inspiration for the Met,” Kardashian wrote in the caption.

One star who is always guaranteed an invite is Rihanna, and in the days leading up to the event, the singer and Fenty mogul, who is pregnant with her second child, was spotted in several looks suggesting she had the Met Gala on her mind. She’ll perhaps join first-time attendee Florence Pugh, who confirmed that she would be arriving with Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli after being named a face for the brand on April 26.

Meanwhile, Pugh’s Dune: Part Two co-star Zendaya, who missed out on the past two Met Galas, recently signed on as an ambassador for Louis Vuitton—meaning there’s a good chance of her attending in a design from the house. In addition, there will be the less-splashy, but still important guests like the donors (it’s easy to forget, but the Met Gala is a fundraiser). Usually, larger fashion houses and brands like Instagram and YouTube purchase tables and fill them up with their celebrities of choice, so expect some of the year’s biggest stars, as well as a few wild cards.

How do I watch the Met Gala?

The red carpet arrivals will be live-streamed across Vogue’s channels. The coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET, with a live show hosted by La La Anthony, Chloe Fineman, and Derek Blasberg, as well as special correspondent Emma Chamberlain. You can also see each look as soon as it hits the Met Gala steps right here: Wmagazine.com.