What is the formal name of the annual fundraising event commonly called the Met Gala?

The annual fundraising event commonly called the Met Gala is formally known as the Costume Institute Benefit.

The event raises money for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its red carpet and celebrity attendance often dominate public coverage, but its institutional purpose is fundraising for exhibitions, acquisitions, conservation, and scholarship related to fashion.

The gala is associated with the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual exhibition. Each exhibition gives the event a theme, and guests are generally encouraged to interpret that theme through clothing. This is why the gala is often discussed simultaneously as a museum benefit, a fashion event, and a major media spectacle.

“Met Gala” is the familiar short name, while “Costume Institute Benefit” identifies the event’s official function. The event should not be confused with the museum’s permanent Costume Institute collection or its individual exhibitions.