What was the best Met Gala fashion theme of all time?

Camp extravagance, religious iconography, and gilded excess — Met Gala themes have set the stage for fashion's most audacious red carpets. Which theme was the greatest of all time?

1

Camp: Notes on Fashion (2019)

The 2019 theme inspired by Susan Sontag's essay on camp aesthetics, producing the most flamboyant and theatrical red carpet in the event's history.

2

Heavenly Bodies (2018)

The Catholic-inspired 2018 theme created in collaboration with the Vatican, generating angelic and religious fashion that broke attendance and fashion records.

3

China: Through the Looking Glass (2015)

The 2015 theme exploring the influence of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion, drawing the largest-ever Met Gala attendance at the time.

4

PUNK: Chaos to Couture (2013)

The 2013 punk-inspired theme challenging guests to channel anarchy through haute couture, producing some of the most memorable avant-garde looks ever seen.

5

Manus × Machina (2016)

The 2016 exploration of technology versus craft in fashion, inspiring futuristic silver-and-white ensembles that defined the Instagram era of the Met Gala.

6

Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons (2017)

The 2017 tribute to the avant-garde designer inspiring stark, sculptural, and deconstructed silhouettes that divided fashion critics and fans.

7

Superheroes: Fantasy & Fashion (2008)

The 2008 superhero theme that predated the Marvel boom, inspiring bold looks and marking a turning point in celebrity Met Gala theatricality.

8

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011)

The 2011 posthumous tribute to the late McQueen inspiring dark, romantic, and technically extraordinary fashion looks in his singular style.

9

In America: A Lexicon of Fashion (2021)

The 2021 theme celebrating American style after a pandemic year, producing the most viral individual looks in modern Met Gala history.

10

Gilded Glamour (2022)

The 2022 Gilded Age dress code inspiring opulent Victorian-era gowns, corseted silhouettes, and a sweeping return to old-world maximalism.

11

Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty (2023)

The 2023 tribute to Chanel's legendary creative director, with guests donning the monochrome, structured elegance synonymous with Lagerfeld's vision.

12

The Garden of Time (2024)

The 2024 floral dress code inspired by J.G. Ballard's story, resulting in one of the most strikingly beautiful and nature-infused red carpets ever.

13

Tailored for You (2025)

The 2025 menswear-inspired dress code honouring Black sartorial excellence, with guests reinterpreting suiting in dazzling and diverse ways.

14

Fashion Is Art (2026)

The 2026 theme blurring the line between wearable art and couture fashion, producing the most creatively ambitious looks of the modern era.

15

Rock Style (1999)

The 1999 theme marking the crossover of music and fashion at the Met, with bold rock-inspired looks that presaged the celebrity-driven era ahead.