Fashion is stepping into the spotlight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Costume Institute’s spring 2026 exhibition, “Costume Art,” announced today, will inaugurate the nearly 12,000-square-foot Condé M. Nast Galleries next to The Met’s Great Hall. “It’s a huge moment for the Costume Institute,” says lead curator Andrew Bolton. “It will transform our department and, I believe, fashion as a whole—having a major art museum like The Met place fashion in a central location.”

To celebrate this milestone, Bolton has designed an exhibition that highlights the importance of the dressed body across the museum’s vast collection. It will pair paintings, sculptures, and other artworks spanning 5,000 years with historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute.

“What links every curatorial department and every gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body,” Bolton explains. “It’s the common thread throughout the entire museum, which was the initial inspiration for the exhibition. We’ve sometimes been seen as secondary, but in reality, the dressed body is central to every gallery you visit. Even the nude is never truly naked—it always reflects cultural values and ideas.”

Despite the success of past Costume Institute shows like “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” which drew 1.66 million visitors and became The Met’s most-visited exhibition, the divide between art and fashion persists. Bolton believes this is because clothing is so closely tied to the body. “Fashion’s acceptance as an art form has happened on art’s terms,” he notes. “It’s based on ignoring or rejecting the body, and on the idea that aesthetics involve detached, disinterested contemplation.”

Traditionally, Costume Institute exhibitions have focused on clothing’s visual appeal, with mannequins hidden beneath the garments. For “Costume Art,” Bolton aims to emphasize the body’s role and the inseparable link between our bodies and what we wear. He argues that fashion actually has an advantage over art because it relates to lived, physical experience.

The exhibition is organized around a series of body themes, loosely grouped into three categories: bodies commonly seen in art, such as the classical and nude body; often overlooked bodies, like aging or pregnant bodies; and universal bodies, such as the anatomical body. Bolton’s approach is broader than the fashion industry’s typical focus on thin models and limited sizes. “The goal was to bring the body back into discussions of art and fashion, to embrace it rather than remove it as a way to elevate fashion to art,” he says.

Designed by Miriam Peterson and Nathan Rich of Peterson Rich Office in Brooklyn, the exhibition puts fashion first. In the high-ceilinged room of the Condé M. Nast Galleries (there is also a low-ceilinged space), clothing will be displayed on mannequins atop 6-foot pedestals, with artwork integrated into the bases. “When you enter, your eyes go upward, and you see the fashions immediately,” Bolton remarks.

Adding to the impact, artist Samar Hejazi has created mirrored heads for the mannequins. “I’ve always wanted to bridge the gap between the viewer and the mannequin,” Bolton says. “With a mannequin whose face is a mirror, you’re looking at yourself.”The exhibition invites you to consider the personal histories of the figures on display while connecting them to your own life, fostering empathy and compassion. To enhance this, the museum will use casts of real people to model the clothing. As visitors move through the show, it aims to question traditional standards and present a broader range of beauty ideals.

The exhibition features works such as “The Mortal Body: Kyōsai sketchbook” by Japanese artist Kawanabe Kyōsai from 1881, and an ensemble by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy’s fall/winter 2010–11 haute couture collection.

Titled simply “Costume Art,” this is the first of Bolton’s exhibitions without a subtitle. The straightforward name reinforces the idea that fashion deserves to be regarded as art. Bolton explains that he deliberated extensively on this decision, noting that until two weeks ago, the exhibition did have a subtitle. Removing it, he says, felt liberating, like taking off a corset, and he believes the bold, strong title clearly states their intention. The aim is not to establish a new hierarchy but to eliminate existing ones and emphasize the equal value of both artworks and human forms.

Supported by Jeff and Lauren Bezos, with additional funding from Saint Laurent and Condé Nast, “Costume Art” will be open from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027. It follows the Met Gala on May 4, 2026, which is the main fundraising event for the Costume Institute’s operations.

Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about The Mets Costume Institute and its new exhibition

General Information

Q What is The Mets Costume Institute
A Its a worldfamous department within The Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to the collection preservation study and exhibition of fashion and costume

Q What is the big news about the Costume Institute
A It has opened new permanent galleries which means it will now have a dedicated space to display fashion yearround The first show in this new space is called Costume Art

Q Where are these new galleries located
A They are located in The Mets Robert Lehman Wing on the museums first floor

About the Costume Art Exhibition

Q What is the Costume Art exhibition about
A The exhibition explores the idea of fashion as an art form It showcases how designers use creativity craftsmanship and materials in the same way traditional artists do

Q What kind of clothing will be on display
A You can expect to see a range of historically significant and artistically groundbreaking pieces from 18thcentury court gowns to avantgarde designs from the 20th and 21st centuries

Q Is this replacing the famous Met Gala and its annual exhibition
A No not at all The famous Anna Wintour Costume Center which hosts the annual blockbuster exhibition will continue to operate as before This new space provides an additional permanent home for fashion displays

Planning Your Visit

Q Do I need a separate ticket to see the Costume Art exhibition
A No entry to Costume Art is included with your general admission ticket to The Met

Q How long will the Costume Art exhibition be on view
A As the inaugural exhibition for the permanent galleries it will be on view for an extended period but the specific items may rotate Its best to check The Mets website for the most current information on the display

Q Are there any special guidelines for viewing the costumes
A Yes to protect the delicate fabrics the light levels in the gallery will be lower than in other parts of the museum Flash