Every Met Gala theme through the years: A list of past Costume Institute exhibitions and their dress codes

• The Met Gala red carpet is known for its extravagant fashion.

• The event's theme reflects the Costume Institute's annual exhibition.

• It also influences the dress code and what guests will wear.

The Met Gala red carpet is unlike any other.

While musicians, athletes, billionaires, and other notable stars mingle on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, viewers are treated to a spectacle of extravagant, show-stopping fashion.

Think Rihanna's massive gowns, Blake Lively's iconic ensembles, and Kim Kardashian's daring dresses.

Those famous looks have all adhered to various Met Gala dress codes and themes, reflecting the yearly exhibition of the museum's Costume Institute. Anna Wintour, Vogue's global editorial director, also recruits a group of Met Gala co-chairs to embrace the dress code and help plan and promote the event.

In 2026, the exhibit and matching event will be themed "Costume Art." Attendees have been instructed to follow a "Fashion Is Art" dress code, which Vogue says should inspire guests to "consider the many ways that designers use the body as their blank canvas."

Ahead of the event, here's a look at themes and dress codes from 1995 onward.