What actually happens inside the Met Gala? Here’s what goes down

Things we know about the 2025 Met Gala: It takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Anna Wintour organizes it, and literally every A-list celebrity is invited. But aside from that? Not much.While we, the people wearing sweats and judging everyone from our couches, get to see celebs walk up the famous Met steps, that’s where the public part of this event stops. Once everyone goes inside, phones are turned off, and there are no reporters present. As "Vogue" puts it, “In short: It’s a secret. For this reason, guests must abide by the no phone (and therefore, no social media) policy.�� This means there are very few pics, but sometimes rules are broken—usually in the bathroom. So, aside from some amazing bathroom selfies, what actually happens at the Met Gala inside? Here’s what we know:The CarpetCelebs arrive. They pose. They walk inside.The Cocktail HourAfter the carpet, celebs and guests mingle during a cocktail hour and get to tour the actual exhibition, which this year is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.�� The exhibit opens to the public on May 10 and closes on October 26, so if you want, you can dust off your finest museum fit and live out your own personal Met Gala in just a couple of weeks! The DinnerCelebs sit down for a formal dinner (after checking out the exhibits, that is) complete with assigned seating, which is a beast to plan given everyone’s inevitable drama. Back in 2021, party planner Eaddy Kiernan told "Vogue" that when it comes to deciding where the stars sit, “We really try to think very carefully about who’s sitting next to each other. Our ideal pairing would maybe be two people who we think will just get on like a house on fire but who may not even realize that they have a lot in common. So with each person, we really do take time to think, ‘What will they talk about?�� We try and think a lot about sight lines and where people have sat in the past. And we try to make sure someone isn’t staring into the eyes of a former flame.”Here’s a look at the dinner layout for “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion�� in 2024:The EntertainmentEach year, at least one fancy performer puts on a show at the Met Gala ("Vogue" notes that “the event usually involves a high-profile performer��), but the evening honestly ends pretty early, giving celebs a chance to change outfits and hit the after-parties. That being said, Ariana Grande gave an ethereal performance at last year’s Met Gala, as proven by these stunning pics:

Things we know about the : It takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Anna Wintour organizes it, and literally every A-list celebrity is invited. But aside from that? Not much.

While we, the people wearing sweats and judging everyone from our couches, get to see celebs walk up the famous Met steps, that’s where the public part of this event stops. Once everyone goes inside, phones are turned off, and there are no reporters present.

As "" puts it, “In short: It’s a secret. For this reason, guests must abide by the no phone (and therefore, no social media) policy.��

This means there are very few pics, but sometimes rules are broken—usually in the bathroom.

So, aside from some amazing bathroom selfies, what actually happens at the Met Gala inside? Here’s what we know:

The Carpet

Celebs arrive. They pose. They walk inside.

the 2024 met gala celebrating "sleeping beauties: reawakening fashion" arrivals

Getty ImagesDimitrios Kambouris

The Cocktail Hour

After the carpet, celebs and guests mingle during a cocktail hour and get to tour the actual exhibition, which this year is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.�� The exhibit opens to the public on May 10 and closes on October 26, so if you want, you can dust off your finest museum fit and live out your own personal Met Gala in just a couple of weeks!

The Dinner

Celebs sit down for a formal dinner (after checking out the exhibits, that is) complete with assigned seating, which is a beast to plan given everyone’s inevitable drama.

Back in 2021, party planner Eaddy Kiernan told "" that when it comes to deciding where the stars sit, “We really try to think very carefully about who’s sitting next to each other. Our ideal pairing would maybe be two people who we think will just get on like a house on fire but who may not even realize that they have a lot in common. So with each person, we really do take time to think, ‘What will they talk about?�� We try and think a lot about sight lines and where people have sat in the past. And we try to make sure someone isn’t staring into the eyes of a former flame.��

Here’s a look at the dinner layout for “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion�� in 2024:

the 2024 met gala celebrating "sleeping beauties: reawakening fashion" inside

Getty ImagesCindy Ord/MG24

Getty ImagesArturo Holmes/MG24

The Entertainment

Each year, at least one fancy performer puts on a show at the Met Gala ("" notes that “the event usually involves a high-profile performer��), but the evening honestly ends pretty early, giving celebs a chance to change outfits and hit the after-parties. That being said, Ariana Grande gave an ethereal performance at last year’s Met Gala, as proven by these stunning pics:

Getty ImagesKevin Mazur/MG24

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