Vogue’s annual fundraising ball for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute is the Met Gala.
The event is formally known as the Costume Institute Benefit. It raises money for the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and traditionally takes place on the first Monday in May.
The gala is closely associated with Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who has chaired the event since 1995. Each year’s guest list and dress code are connected to the Costume Institute’s exhibition, making the event both a fundraiser and a major fashion spectacle.
The Met Gala is often confused with Vogue World, another Vogue-linked fashion event. Vogue World is a separate public-facing event series, while the Met Gala specifically benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.