Last night, on Monday, May 1, the 2023 Met Gala took place. This year’s Costume Institute exhibition, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” celebrates the full work and life of Karl Lagerfeld, so the dress code was, fittingly, “in honor of Karl.” As Lagerfeld designed for many houses—including his eponymous brand, Patou, Balmain, Chloé, Fendi, and Chanel—attendees had no shortage of inspiration.

Below, everything you need to know about the 2023 Met Gala.

FAQs—

1.When did the Met Gala 2023 take place?

The 2023 Met Gala took place on Monday, May 1 in New York City. It celebrated the opening of the Costume Institute exhibition “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.”

2.How can I watch (or rewatch) the Met Gala 2023?

Fans followed all the action on Vogue’s livestream. If you missed the night-of action, you can catch catch a replay. The red carpet was live-streamed on Vogue.com and was also broadcast live across our digital platforms (as well as on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter). This year’s livestream co-hosts were La La Anthony, Derek Blasberg, Chloe Fineman, and special correspondent Emma Chamberlain.

The Vogue team also live-blogged thoughts and reactions to the red carpet, and gave context to the red carpet looks. Catch up on all their real-time reactions on the blog.

3.What was the Met Gala 2023 theme?

The 2023 Met Gala dress code was “in honor of Karl.” The exhibition sees Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s Wendy Yu Curator in Charge, examine the work of Karl Lagerfeld (1933–2019). Throughout his lifetime, Lagerfeld worked at prominent fashion houses such as Balmain, Chloé, Fendi, and Chanel, in addition to his namesake brand.  More than 150 pieces are on display in the exhibition, many of which are accompanied by Lagerfeld’s sketches.

4.Who hosted the Met Gala 2023?

On January 18, Vogue announced that its 2023 hosts would be Penélope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa, and Vogue‘s Anna Wintour. Anna Wintour has run the Met Gala since 1995, shaping it into the much-loved annual celebration of fashion we know today.

5.What is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala is a charity event that is considered a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It has traditionally been timed to mark the opening of its annual fashion exhibition. Year after year, the event raises eight-figure sums.

6.What happens at the Met Gala?

In short: It’s a secret. For this reason, guests must abide by the no phone (and, therefore, no social media) policy. However, you can see exclusive photos from inside the 2023 Met Gala here and catch a glimpse of the table settings, menu, and decor. Kendall Jenner also gave us a behind the scenes look at the Met Gala through her camera in 2021. The event usually involves a high-profile performer (like Rihanna or Justin Bieber). This year, Lizzo shut down the gala with her shimmering, surprise performance. And guests always explore the exhibition before sitting down together for dinner.

7.Where is the Met Gala held?

The Met Gala takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on the first Monday in May each year (with the exception of the 2021 event, which took place in September due to COVID-19 restrictions). Guests attending the Met Gala typically stay in hotels nearby, congregating at a few celebrity-favorite spots. This year, the Mark Hotel was a prime location for celeb-spotting; see our photos from inside its halls.

8.Who is invited to the Met Gala?

Until the evening before the event, the guest list is top secret. But some of the biggest names in the business regularly attend—from Beyoncé and Lady Gaga to Madonna and Rihanna. More often than not, designers attend with their muses: think Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss, or Nicolas Ghesquière and Emma Stone. See everything that goes into the Met Gala seating chart here.

9.Who attends the Met Gala?

The event usually hosts around 600 attendees. The event welcomes stars, young creatives, and industry paragons each year. Revisit some of the best looks from long-time Met Gala attendees such as Blake Lively, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna and more of the best looks of all time.