Forget the red carpet. If you’re not on the guest list for the 2026 Met Gala, your chances of slipping into the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser are about as slim as a sequin on a dress that’s been packed in a suitcase. The event’s invitation-only nature means even the most well-connected celebrities can’t guarantee a plus-one. But here’s the twist: the real party begins after the lights dim and the champagne flows. The Met Gala afterparty circuit, while less exclusive, is no less glittering—or complicated.
The Met’s Shadow Play
The Met Gala itself takes place at the museum’s 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue location, but the real action spills into the surrounding Upper East Side. By 10 p.m., the first wave of afterparties kicks off at nearby hotels like The Mark and The Carlyle, both of which have hosted high-profile events in past years. The Mark, for instance, once welcomed Karl Lagerfeld’s 2023 celebration, while The Carlyle’s Bemelmans Bar—famous for Ludwig Bemelman’s murals—has been a regular stop for Cartier’s post-Met bash. The bar’s pigs in a blanket, served with a side of champagne, are reportedly a hit.
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Yet the afterparty scene isn’t confined to these spots. Instagram once commandeered the historic James P. Duke House for a surprise event, and Maxime’s, Robin Birley’s members’ club, is expected to host again this year. The venue’s Rifat Özbek–designed interiors add a touch of opulence to what’s sure to be another night of excess.
The Midnight Roll Call
Though invitations often list an earlier start time, most parties don’t officially open until midnight. This is because the Met Gala itself typically ends around 10 p.m., and the VIPs who attend rarely make a direct dash to the afterparties. Instead, they linger for a change of clothes—or a photo op. The GQ party at The Twenty Two is often the first stop, acting as a sort of halfway house before guests head to the Boom Boom Room at The Standard.
The Boom Boom Room, which has existed in its current form for nearly two decades, is the unofficial epicenter of the night. It’s where Solange and Jay-Z famously got stuck in an elevator, and where this year’s event will be hosted by Grace Gummer, Gabriela Hearst, and Yola Mezcal. The party may even spill over to Baz Luhrmann’s bar, Monsieur, where the director is known for hosting rowdy late-night sessions.
The Sponsor’s Secret Sauce
Of all the afterparties, the one hosted by the Met Gala’s fashion sponsor is the most coveted. In 2024, Loewe and Luca Guadagnino threw a star-studded event at Jean’s, drawing names like Zendaya and Kaia Gerber. The year before, Chanel’s party at The Mercer Hotel’s Sartiano’s attracted Cara Delevingne and Penelope Cruz. This year, Saint Laurent takes the reins, with Anthony Vaccarello’s muses—Hailey Bieber, Rosé, and Zoë Kravitz—expected to make appearances.
These events are the culmination of weeks of planning, but they’re also a gamble. The guest list remains a closely guarded secret, and the only certainty is that the fashion industry’s biggest names will be there. For everyone else, the afterparties offer a glimpse into a world that’s as elusive as it is extravagant.