2026 Met Gala: Jeff Bezos' Patronage Sparks Controversy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Met Gala in new York has always been the grandest and most lavish fashion event of the year, reflecting the growing ties between designers, celebrities, and power. The 2026 edition of the charity gala ramped this up, as tech mogul Jeff Bezos set to join the cohort as co-chair, sparking controversies. 

According to a report published Sunday by The Guardian, public attention is focused on the guest list and their outfits at the launch of the "Costume Art" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Figures such as Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman are chairing the event alongside Anna Wintour. Ticket prices are reported to be around US$100,000.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are attending as honorary co-chairs and will join approximately 450 guests on the museum steps.

Their involvement as major patrons has sparked speculation, including rumors of an acquisition of Condé Nast, Vogue's parent company, which oversees the gala. Similar speculation arose last year, coinciding with the couple's wedding in Venice.

On the political side, Zohran Mamdani is skipping the event, breaking the long-held tradition of New York mayor attendance. Criticism also emerged from posters in several areas of the city highlighting Bezos's involvement, put up by the British activist group Everyone Hates Elon.

"I love celebrity culture and fashion as much as anyone, but Bezos's involvement makes Vogue seem irrelevant," said a spokesperson for the group. "Don’t tell me Bezos has been involved because of his fashion sense?"

This year's fashion theme, "fashion is art," refers to the exhibition's theme, which emphasizes the connection between fashion and art. Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton said this connection lies in the human body.

"With bodies wearing clothes the common thread," Bolton said.

The exhibition is divided into 13 "thematic" body types, ranging from pregnancy, aging, disability, to variations on nudity. Approximately 200 artworks are paired with 200 garments and accessories.

"The focus is on bodies marginalised in fashion, and ones that haven’t been valorised in either fashion or western culture," he said.

Some of the works on display included a late Roman sculpture of Venus Pudica that was paired with a dress made of human hair by Dilara Findikoglu. Other pieces included Sinéad Burke's Burberry trench coat, as well as works by Rei Kawakubo and Vivienne Westwood.

Bolton noted that the interpretation of themes on the red carpet often didn't directly reflect the exhibition's concept.

"I’m sure there will be some nakedness,” said Bolton. “I also think we’ll get a lot of goddess gowns. But I do worry people might take the theme literally," he continued.

He also noted that diversity in fashion has declined in recent years. "I don’t feel as if we’re seeing as much diversity on the runway as you did [then]," he said.

Fashion observer Cally Blackman believes the theme could be a response to criticism of fashion's values.

“It is the most powerful form of non-verbal communication that exists, yet we’re always fighting the battle [to prove its worth],” Blackman said.

He also highlighted the shift in the Met Gala’s function, which he believes has become increasingly focused on publicity.

“The problem with the gala is that it’s … self-defeating. It’s not about fashion, it’s about publicity. I think a lot of the cachet has gone because it’s funded byJeff Bezos,” he said.

The Met Gala is one of the most-watched red carpet events each year, with approximately one billion global video views on Vogue’s platforms, and it also serves as a fundraiser for the museum.

Read: Guide to Met Gala 2026: Theme, Dress Code, and More

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News