Met Gala 2026

It always begins with the theme and what curiosities it sparks in me. This one began with a curiosity about classical sculpture—well, really the multifigure classical sculpture. A solo figure is often posing for the viewer, but multiple figures are usually in some kind of heated moment—romance, love, lust, fear, violence. Something passionate is going on among these bodies.

As soon as I knew the theme of this year’s exhibition and gala, I knew I wanted to explore the relationship between figures in classical sculpture, as well as a specific painting in the Met collection, ‘Pygmalion and Galatea’ by Jean-Léon Gérôme, in which the sculptor kisses his sculpture as it comes to life. – Jordan Roth