Fashion’s biggest night is just hours away. It’s the first Monday in May, which means a who’s who of the fashion world coming down to the Metropolitan Museum of Art soon for the annual Met Gala, wearing their most glamorous couture ensembles – many of which have been in the works for months – as they do their best to aptly capture the theme of 2026, which, as always, corresponds with the Costume Institute’s annual spring exhibition. This year, the theme is ‘The Art of Costume’ and the dress code is ‘Fashion is Art’.
Those who succeed in fixing a coveted invitation to the Met Gala they often start preparing days, if not months, before the evening’s festivities, from working on their outfits with designers to partaking in endless beauty treatments. But it’s the 24 hours leading up to the Met Gala when preparations really begin, as guests tuck into their chosen hotel room for a day of revelry, often alongside a heavyweight crew including makeup artists, hair stylists, stylists and more. It’s an hour-long race to the stylish finish line, also known as the Met Gala red carpet. So where exactly do the most fashionable guests get ready for the Met Gala? More specifically – what are the hotels of choice for the glitterati?
New York City is home to a host of wonderful grand accommodations, a certain elite selection of hotels tend to stand out for Met Gala visitors. These are all five-star hotels, but it’s not just about a plush bed and room service menu that’s worth splurging on—these properties are exclusive, yes, but, in a more practical sense, they often tend to be in relatively close proximity to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This geographical asset is perhaps the most important criterion, given the notoriously nightmare-inducing traffic that accompanies the first Monday in May holidays.
In the hours leading up to fashion’s biggest night, let’s take a look at the crème de la crème of New York hotels as Met Gala attendees get ready for the biggest sartorial night of the year.
