Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman to Co-Chair 2026 Met Gala

new York:Music giant Beyonce, tennis legend Venus Williams and Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman will co-chair the 2026 Met Gala with Vogue’s Anna Wintour on May 4, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced in New York on Wednesday.

The annual Met Gala, traditionally held on the first Monday in May, was first held in 1948 and has been reserved for New York high society for decades.

Wintour, the high priestess of US fashion, took over the show in the 1990s, turning the party into a catwalk for the rich and famous.

The gala is a fundraiser for the Met Costume Institute, but it’s also a social media extravaganza where stars compete to create the biggest spectacle by donning extravagant looks.

The dress code has not yet been announced, but it will coincide with the “Art of Costume” exhibition opening May 10 at the venerable museum in Manhattan, which aims to explore the “dressed body” in works of art throughout the centuries.

The co-chairs are strong players in their fields: music, sports and cinema.

The gala will be Beyoncé’s first appearance in a decade, and fashionistas will be holding their breath to see what look she will wear. He became honorary co-chairman in 2013.

Williams, 45, is the owner of seven Grand Slam titles. She currently competes on the WTA Tour. Her sister Serena, who retired from tennis, hosted the event in 2019.

Kidman, who co-chaired the event in 2003 and 2005, has many projects in the works for 2026; these include “Practical Magic 2,” a sequel to the popular 1998 film about a family of witches, and “Scarpetta,” a series based on Patricia Cornwell’s crime novel heroine.

The Met also announced the formation of a gala “host committee” led by Saint Laurent designer Anthony Vaccarello and actress Zoe Kravitz. The committee also includes singers Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat, retired ballet superstar Misty Copeland and WNBA champion A’ja Wilson.