The Met Gala, Met Ball, Costume Institute Gala... Whatever you want to call it, the grand opening of the annual fashion exhibition at the Met Museum's Costume Institute is the biggest night in any A-lister's calendar.
Affectionately nicknamed the 'fashion Oscars' for its star power and instantly iconic fashion moments, tickets to the charity gala are like gold dust.
When is the Met Gala happening?
The event traditionally falls on the first Monday in May, meaning that this year, the ball will take place on Monday 2nd May. Red carpet arrivals tend to kick off at 6pm - and with a red carpet of around 150 yards long, arrivals tend to take a little while...
What's the theme of the Met Gala 2016?
This year's theme will be 'Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology.' The accompanying Costume Institute exhibition will explore the connection - and conflict - between traditional haute couture methods and new technologies, and is expected to feature over 100 items of clothing.
The curator of the costume institute, Andrew Bolton, explains 'Traditionally, the distinction between the haute couture and prêt-à-porter was based on the handmade and the machine-made. But recently this distinction has become increasingly blurred as both disciplines have embraced the practices and techniques of the other.'
Who is hosting this year?
As ever, it's a star-studded line-up. This year's event will be co-chaired by Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, Anna Wintour (of course) and Apple's chief design officer, Jonathan Ive. Nicolas Ghesquiere, Karl Lagerfeld and Miuccia Prada are the honourary chairs.
Can I come?
Ha! Unless you're a wealthy philantropist, a near relation of Anna Wintour, a legitimate A-lister or a legitimate A-lister's date, your chances are slimmer than sample size. And anyway, you probably wouldn't be able to afford a ticket without re-mortgaging your house or winning the Euromillions.
How much do tickets cost?
Last year, a ticket to the event would set you back $25,000. Which is a lot of money for one evening, even if it does mean that you might get to breath the same air as Beyoncé (who most likely doesn't actually pay for her ticket, because she's Beyoncé). And that's without taking into account the cost of a couture gown, a decent manicure and blow dry, a dazzling array of jewels...
Who will actually be attending, then?
This year's guest list has not yet been revealed, but numbers tend to be capped at around 700 - making the night even more exclusive.
Last year's event was a veritable who's who of music, film, art and culture - attendees included Rihanna, Beyoncé and Jay Z, Kim and Kanye, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Eddie Redmayne, Colin Firth, Carey Mulligan, Sienna Miller, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cara Delevingne, Benedict Cumberbatch and Reese Witherspoon. Oh, and not forgetting the fashion crowd - Christopher Bailey of Burberry, Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel, Stella McCartney and the Olsen twins all made an appearance last year.
What will the A-listers be wearing?
The dress code for the Met Gala is themed in accordance with the exhibition - so this year, we're expecting lots of 3D laser-cut gowns and digital prints, with maybe a bit of wearable tech thrown in for good measure (although Fitbits don't really have any place on the red carpet...)
Stars often tend to opt for gowns by designers with whom they have a pre-existing relationship - so Jennifer Lawrence will be wearing Dior, Alicia Vikander (who we have an inkling will likely make the guest list this year) will wear Louis Vuitton, while Beyoncé has been reckless in a Givenchy dress for the past four years running. There'll also be some wild card choices, like Rihanna's headline-grabbing 'omelette' dress by Chinese designer Guo Pei.
It's pretty normal for the stars to spend the taxi ride to the event lying down (got to avoid those dress creases!) and for stylists to walk the red carpet with their celebrity charges, to rearrange their trains and fend off any wardrobe malfunctions - remember the guy crouching behind Beyoncé last year?
In a recent video interview with US Vogue, co-host Taylor Swift claimed that she'll be wearing a robot suit, accessorised with a sword, but something tells us she's not being entirely truthful...
OK, can I watch at home?
Don't be silly - the Met Ball is way too exclusive for a live stream. Saying that, last year the museum chose to stream selected moments on Periscope, and it's worth monitoring your social media feeds for the odd snapshot.
Are there any rules?
Last year, Anna Wintour issued an edict banning selfies and smartphones, to varying levels of success, and this year it looks like the same rules will be in place - despite the fact that, erm, the theme is technology-based, and the exhibition is sponsored by Apple. She also reportedly banned bruschetta and parsley, as they're too messy to eat. Fair.
READ MORE: Watch The First Trailer For The Met Gala Documentary