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Lewis Hamilton to co-host Met Gala with spotlight on menswear and black style

Steven McIntosh
Culture reporter
Getty Images Lewis Hamilton attends the F1 75 Live at The O2 Arena on February 18, 2025 in London, EnglandGetty Images
The co-chairs of this year's Met Gala include Lewis Hamilton (pictured), Pharrell Williams and LeBron James

The biggest names in entertainment are gearing up to celebrate menswear and black style at Monday's Met Gala, the fashion industry's biggest night of the year.

Pharrell Williams and Lewis Hamilton are among the co-chairs for this year's event, which raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

The annual gala, which takes place in New York City, is usually attended by huge names from the world of film, fashion and music.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the Met Gala 2025.

What is this year's Met Gala theme?

Getty Images Usher performs in a black, sequinned jacket and white shirt on stage on night 8 of his Past Present Future tour at The O2 Arena on April 11, 2025 in London, EnglandGetty Images
Met Gala committee member Usher, pictured last month, said the celebration of menswear and black style was "timely"

The Met Gala's theme is usually connected to the Costume Institute's latest exhibition, which this year is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.

It's inspired by Monica L Miller's book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, published in 2009.

This year's Met Gala dress code is "Tailored for You" - a reference to the suiting and menswear which features in the exhibition.

In fact, this is the first Met Gala in more than two decades to focus exclusively on menswear.

"The theme this year is not only timely," said Gala committee member Usher, "but also speaks to our rich culture that should always be widely celebrated."

Expect lots of references from both the male and female guests to the role black style has played over the centuries, particularly in menswear.

The Met says the show "presents a cultural and historical examination of black style from the 18th Century to today, through the lens of dandyism".

Who is hosting?

Getty Images Colman Domingo speaks onstage during the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards 2025 in Partnership with Google Shopping on April 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaGetty Images
The co-chairs of this year's Met Gala include double Oscar nominee Colman Domingo

Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who oversees the gala every year, is joined for 2025 by co-chairs Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky and LeBron James.

Black talent is also being celebrated with the event's host committee, which includes athlete Simone Biles, film director Spike Lee, actress Ayo Edebiri, pop stars Doechii, Usher, Tyla, Janelle Monáe and André 3000, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and playwright Jeremy O Harris.

When is the Met Gala?

PA Media Kim Kardashian attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala 2024 in New York, USA. Picture date: Monday May 6, 2024PA Media
Met Gala regular Kim Kardashian pictured at last year's event

The Met Gala always takes place on The First Monday in May - to use the title of the 2016 documentary about the event.

This year, that means it takes place on Monday, 5 May, with guests arriving from about 18:00 EST (23:00 BST).

It might be a bank holiday in the UK, but for the designers, publicists and PAs, it'll be an extraordinarily busy day as they preen and prepare their stars to walk the grand staircase.

Although the public never gets to see inside the event itself, where the guests are treated to dinner, cocktails, live music and a look around the costume institute's new exhibition, the lengthy red carpet event beforehand ensures acres of media coverage.

The guest list isn't published in advance, but you can safely expect to see a huge number of A-listers on the night.

How can I watch the Met Gala?

Getty Images Anna Wintour speaks during the Vogue World: Hollywood Press Announcement at Chateau Marmont on March 26, 2025 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaGetty Images
Vogue editor Anna Wintour has chaired or co-chaired every Met Gala since 1995

Unless you're a New York resident planning to stand behind the barriers across the road from the museum, your best bet is probably to watch it online.

Vogue will be running a live stream of the event across their digital platforms, including YouTube.

US viewers will be able to watch on Peacock and E! Online, while countless news outlets will be live streaming their own coverage on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

You can also follow the live blog here on the BBC News website.

But to be honest, photos and videos from the night will be inescapable when you open your social media feeds on Tuesday morning, so if you're in the UK and going to bed, you shouldn't have to look too far for coverage when you wake up.

Can I buy tickets?

No, sorry hun.

The Met Gala is an exclusive event, only open to a small number of invited guests - usually around 450.

Often, the biggest brands will buy a table, and use it to host their desired celebrities. The label benefits if the celebrity is associated with them and wears one of their outfits on the red carpet.

The proceeds from ticket sales go to the costume institute. It's understood an individual ticket goes for around $75,000 (£56,000), while a 10-seat table starts at $350,000.

But at least the A-listers don't have to deal with dynamic pricing.

Look back on previous Met Galas: