The Met Gala theme is out. What does Bezos have to do with it?

1 hour ago 4

The 2026 Met Gala theme has officially been announced, leading fashion fanatics across the globe to predict what could await us on the carpet at fashion’s night of nights.

Simply titled Costume Art, the theme focuses on the act of dressing rather than the garments themselves. It will inform both the Met Costume Institute’s exhibition and the gala’s dress code, which is expected to be announced in coming months, along with the names of those who will co-chair the event alongside Vogue’s former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

A Line Of Beauty” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2023 in New York.

This year, however, something beyond the fashion has caught people’s eye. The next exhibition and gala, set to take place on May 5, will be funded by Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos.

This was immediately picked up on social media, with some users speculating whether the Bezos’ involvement was in any way connected to the controversial Vogue cover in June that featured Lauren in her Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress.

The cover was revealed just as the Bezos’ mammoth three-day wedding in Venice was coming to an end. The lavish celebration attracted stars from around the world, as well as protests from locals who feared their city was being transformed into a celebrity playground.

Given the controversy around the wedding, some questioned why Vogue decided to feature the former journalist on the cover, especially since it would mark one of Wintour’s final digital covers after 37 years as the magazine’s editor-in-chief. She has since become the global editorial director and global chief content officer of Vogue’s parent company, Condé Nast.

There were even rumours that Lauren could potentially step into Wintour’s shoes if her husband acquired Condé Nast. However, this did not eventuate as Chloe Malle became head of editorial content for US Vogue in September.

Jeff and Lauren Sanchez Bezos’ lavish wedding attracted protests … and a Vogue digital cover.

The Bezos’ financial support for the Met Gala shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Wintour has been friendly with the Amazon founder for years, hosting him and Lauren at the Met Gala in 2024. In fact, his company even co-sponsored the gala in 2012.

However, some commentators argue that the Bezos connection signals broader issues already evident around the Met Gala, notably its tendency to celebrate the mega rich and famous without adequately acknowledging class and financial inequality (as of 2024, one gala ticket cost more than $113,000). This was particularly apparent in 2022 when the “Gilded Glamour and White Tie” gala was accused of insensitivity in light of worsening US inflation.

It goes beyond the gala itself too. Earlier this month, Teen Vogue – a youth publication known for making space for more socially progressive stories – was folded into Vogue.com. Its news and politics editor Lex McMenamin, along with several other staff members, were laid off.

“This seems to happen increasingly with the Met Gala,” one user said on Instagram on Tuesday. “Condé Nast is making cuts, the gala is going on, rich people are riching. The optics are kind of uncomfortable.”

Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.