Everything You Need to Know Before the Stars Arrive at the 2018 Met Gala
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At the beginning of May, celebrities and designers will venture to Manhattan's Upper East Side for the Met Gala. The annual event is easily one of the most glamorous red carpets of the year thanks to the slew of stars who will arrive in custom-made creations inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's chosen theme.
In year's past, we've been treated to plenty of memorable fashion moments, including some wild looks from the Kardashian family, as well as some adorable couple moments, and we expect this year will be no different.
If you need a refresher on what to expect, look no further. Here's everything you need to know before this year's Met Gala.
When is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala is on Monday, May 7, 2018. The red carpet should start around 6 p.m. ET.
What is this year's theme?
In November, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that this year's theme will be "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." The distinctly religious theme marks a departure from last year's "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons" theme, which centered around a specific designer rather than something more conceptual.
This theme seems a bit controversial....
“Every show we do at the Costume Institute has that potential,” the "Heavenly Bodies" exhibit curator Andrew Bolton told The New York Times. “This one perhaps more than any other. But the focus is on a shared hypothesis about what we call the Catholic imagination and the way it has engaged artists and designers and shaped their approach to creativity, as opposed to any kind of theology or sociology. Beauty has often been a bridge between believers and unbelievers.”
Who is hosting this year's Met Gala?
To bring the theme to life, the Met enlisted Rihanna, Donatella Versace, and Amal Clooney as honorary gala chairs.
RELATED: The Best Beauty Moments from the 2017 Met Gala
Who will be in attendance?
Due to the religious nature of this year's theme, The New York Times reports that an invitation to the event will be extended to Cardinal Dolan, the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York. No word on whether or not he'll actually attend.
In terms of celebrities, the guest list remains hush hush, but one thing we know for sure: There will be a lot of big stars in attendance.
If we were to guess though, we'd expect that representatives from the Kardashian family will be in attendance. Our best bet is that Kim Kardashian West and Kendall Jenner will make appearances, but we wouldn't count out Kylie Jenner to make it her first post-baby red carpet.
The Met Gala is also a big moment for star couples. Jay-Z and Beyoncé have historically attended the event together. Other couples who have attended in the past include Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, and Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez.
Aside from the KarJenners and couples, the Hadid sisters also have a history of attending, as do Selena Gomez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zendaya, Julianne Moore, Kerry Washington, Zoe Kravitz, the Olsen twins, Karlie Kloss, Serena Williams, and Reese Witherspoon.
Someone who might not be there? Demi Lovato. Earlier this year, she recounted a story about her first (and last) Met Gala. “I had a terrible experience,” the 25-year-old shared. "This one celebrity was a complete bitch and was miserable to be around. It was very cliquey."
“I remember being so uncomfortable that I wanted to drink,” the sober star said. She left the gala and went straight to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
When will the exhibit be open to the public?
The "Heavenly Bodies" museum exhibit, which is sponsored by Versace, will be open to the public from May 10 to Oct. 8, 2018.
