Historically held on the first Monday in May, this year's Met Gala has been postponed indefinitely due to concerns about the coronavirus. This news comes hot on the heels of the Met's own announcement that the museum will be closed 'until further notice' after two employees showed symptoms of the virus.
This year's theme was declared to be About Time: Fashion and Duration, designed in celebration of the Met's 150th anniversary and inspired by Virginia Woolf's novel, Orlando, as well as the philosopher Henri Bergson. The event was to be backed by Louis Vuitton and co-hosted by some seriously impressive names including Meryl Streep, Nicolas Ghesquière, Emma Stone and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
This is the latest major fashion event to be cancelled, following a series of cancellations during recent fashion weeks, the most high-profile of which being Armani's autumn/winter 2020 show. And just yesterday, LVMH announced its plans to produce free hand sanitiser in France in order to keep up with public demand.
At this stage, the true economic consequences of the coronavirus are difficult to predict, particularly in terms of the fashion industry. We can only hope we return to normality as quickly as possible.
SEE: The Best Dressed Met Gala Guests Of The Last Decade
SEE: The Best Dressed Celebs At The Met Gala
1 of 138Beyonce
Beyonce in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccadro Tisci at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
2 of 138Rihanna
Rihanna in Guo Pei at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
3 of 138Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevigne in Stella McCartney at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
4 of 138Amal Clooney
Amal Clooney in Maison Margiela 'Artisinal' Gown at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
5 of 138Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker in H&M and Philip Treacy at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
6 of 138Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour in Chanel at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
7 of 138Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger in Chanel Haute Couture at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
8 of 138Sienna Miller
Sienna Miller in Thakoon at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
9 of 138Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
10 of 138Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley
Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley in Atelier Versace at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
11 of 138Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian in Roberto Cavalli at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
12 of 138Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
13 of 138Amanda Seyfriend
Amanda Seyfriend in Givenchy Haute Couture at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
14 of 138Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson in Michael Kors at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
15 of 138Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell in Burberry Prorsum at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
16 of 138FKA Twigs
FKA Twigs in Christopher Kane at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
17 of 138Zendaya
Zendaya in Fausto Puglisi at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
18 of 138Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in John Galliano for Dior at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
19 of 138Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus in Alexander Wang at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
20 of 138Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington in Prada at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
21 of 138Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes in Zac Posen at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
22 of 138Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson in Chanel at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
23 of 138Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez in Versace at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
24 of 138Poppy Delevingne
Poppy Delevingne in Marchesa at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
25 of 138Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid in Diane von Furstenberg at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
26 of 138Imogen Poots
Imogen Poots in Alberta Ferretti at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
27 of 138Georgia May Jagger
Georgia May Jagger in Gucci at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
28 of 138Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde in Prada at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
29 of 138Madonna
Madonna in Moschino at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
30 of 138Zoe Kravtiz
Zoe Kravitz in Alexander Wang at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
31 of 138Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly in custom Louis Vuitton at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
32 of 138Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore in Givenchy Haute Couture at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
33 of 138Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles in Giles at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
34 of 138Bee Shaffer
Bee Shaffer in Alexander McQueen at 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Met Gala 2015
35 of 138Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift in Oscar De La Renta at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
36 of 138Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne in Stella McCartney at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
37 of 138Rihanna
Rihanna in Stella McCartney at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
38 of 138Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon in Stella McCartney at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
39 of 138Beyonce
Beyonce in Givenchy Haute Couture at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
40 of 138Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham in Victoria Beckham at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
41 of 138Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker in Oscar de la Renta at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
42 of 138Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o in Prada at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
43 of 138Georgia May Jagger
Georgia May Jagger in David Koma at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
44 of 138Dita Von Teese
Dita Von Teese in Zac Posen at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
45 of 138Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour in Chanel couture at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
46 of 138Blake Lively
Blake Lively in Gucci Premiere at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
47 of 138Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian in Lanvin at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
48 of 138Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger in Hugo Boss at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
49 of 138Karlie Kloss
Karlie Kloss in Oscar de la Renta at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
50 of 138Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley
Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley in Balmain at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
51 of 138Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson in Jason Wu at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
52 of 138Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez in Diane von Furstenberg at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
53 of 138Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie in Donna Karan Atelier at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
54 of 138Suki Waterhouse
Suki Waterhouse in Burberry Prorsum at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
55 of 138Rita Ora
Rita Ora in Donna Karen at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
56 of 138Gisele Bundchen
Gisele in Balenciaga at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
57 of 138Karolina Kurkova
Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
58 of 138Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue in Marchesa at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
59 of 138Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell in Roberto Cavalli at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
60 of 138Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes in Marchesa at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
61 of 138Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham in Giambattista Valli at 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' Met Gala, 2014
62 of 138Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway in Valentino at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
63 of 138Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne in Burberry at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
64 of 138Kate Bosworth
Kate Bosworth in Balmain at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
65 of 138Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart in Stella McCartney at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
66 of 138Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker in Giles at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
67 of 138Emma Watson
Emma Watson in Prabal Gurung at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
68 of 138Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles in Zenzo at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
69 of 138Rooney Mara
Rooney Mara wearing Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
70 of 138Coco Rocha
Coco Rocha wearing Emanuel Ungaro at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
71 of 138Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman in Zac Posen at 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' Met Gala, 2013
72 of 138Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan in Prada at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
73 of 138Florence Welch
Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
74 of 138Beyoncé
Beyoncé in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
75 of 138Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
76 of 138Lana Del Ray
Lana Del Rey in Joseph Altuzarra at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
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77 of 138Michelle Dockery
Michelle Dockery in Ralph Lauren Collection at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
78 of 138Kate Upton
Kate Upton in Michael Kors at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
79 of 138Maya Haile
Maya Haile in Ralph Lauren at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
80 of 138Karolina Kurkova
Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe Collection at 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' Met Gala, 2012
81 of 138Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger in Jason Wu at ''Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
82 of 138Chanel Iman
Chanel Iman in Dolce & Gabbana at ''Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
83 of 138Daphne Guinness
Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen at 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
84 of 138Beyonce
Beyonce in Emilio Pucci at 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
85 of 138Zoë Saldana
Zoë Saldana in Calvin Klein Collection at 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
86 of 138Florence Welsh
Florence Welsh in Yves Saint Laurent at 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
87 of 138Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney at 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
88 of 138Karolina Kurkova
Karolina Kurkova in Jean Paul Gaultier at 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala, 2011
89 of 138Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway in Valentino at 'American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity' Met Gala, 2010
90 of 138Diane Von Furstenberg
Diane Von Furstenberg in Diane Von Furstenberg at 'American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity' Met Gala, 2010
91 of 138Sienna Miller
Sienna Miller in Emilio Pucci at 'American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity' Met Gala, 2010
92 of 138Doutzen Kroes
Doutzen Kroes wore Zac Posen at 'American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity' Met Gala, 2010
93 of 138Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham in Marc Jacobs at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
94 of 138Kate Moss
Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
95 of 138Agyness Deyn
Agyness Deyn in Burberry at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
96 of 138Iman
Iman in Donna Karan at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
97 of 138Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour in Chanel at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
98 of 138Kate Bosworth
Kate Bosworth in Stella McCartney at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
99 of 138Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer in Gianni Versace at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
100 of 138Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger in Chanel at 'The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion' Met Gala, 2009
101 of 138Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour in Chanel at 'Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy' Met Gala, 2008
102 of 138Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham in Giorgio Armani at 'Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy' Met Gala, 2008
103 of 138Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock in Alberta Ferretti at 'Poiret: King of Fashion' Met Gala, 2007
104 of 138Mary Kate Olsen
Mary Kate Olsen in Giambattista Valli at 'Poiret: King of Fashion' Met Gala, 2007
105 of 138Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu in Zac Posen at 'Poiret: King of Fashion' Met Gala, 2007
106 of 138Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen at 'AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion' Met Gala, 2006
107 of 138Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham in Roland Mouret at 'AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion' Met Gala, 2006
108 of 138Sienna Miller
Sienna Miller in Burberry at 'AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion' Met Gala, 2006
109 of 138Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron in Dior at 'AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion' Met Gala, 2006
110 of 138Kate Moss
Kate Moss in Burberry at 'AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion' Met Gala, 2006
111 of 138met gala 2016
Beyoncé Wears Latex Givenchy to the 2016 Met Gala.
112 of 138met gala 2016
Emma Watson wore a monochrome Calvin Klein dress at the Met Gala in 2016.
113 of 138met gala 2016
Kendall Jenner in an Atelier Versace dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewellery at the Met Gala in 2016.
114 of 138met gala 2016
Gigi Hadid wore a Tommy Hilfiger dress and Zayn Malik wore Versace to the Met Gala in 2016.
115 of 138met gala 2016
Kim Kardashian wore a silver Balmain dress to the Met Gala in 2016.
116 of 138met gala 2016
Taylor Swift wore a Louis Vuitton dress to the Met Gala in 2016.
117 of 138Bella Hadid in Alexander Wang at the Met Gala 2017
Bella Hadid in Alexander Wang at the Met Gala 2017.
118 of 138Chrissy Teigen in Marchesa at the 2017 Met Gala.
Chrissy Teigen in Marchesa at the 2017 Met Gala.
119 of 138Rihanna in Comme des Garçons at the 2017 Met Gala.
Rihanna in Comme des Garçons at the 2017 Met Gala.
120 of 138Blake Lively 2017 met
Blake Lively in Versace at the 2017 Met Gala.
121 of 138Miranda Kerr in Oscar de la Renta at the 2017 Met Gala.
Miranda Kerr in Oscar de la Renta at the 2017 Met Gala.
122 of 138Hailey Baldwin in Carolina Herrera at the 2017 Met Gala.
Hailey Baldwin in Carolina Herrera at the 2017 Met Gala.
123 of 138Cara Delevingne in Chanel at the 2017 Met Gala.
Cara Delevingne in Chanel at the 2017 Met Gala.
124 of 138Rihanna wearing Maison Margiela by John Galliano at the 2018 Met Gala.
Rihanna wearing Maison Margiela by John Galliano at the 2018 Met Gala.
125 of 138Ariana Grande wearing Vera Wang at the 2018 Met Gala.
Ariana Grande wearing Vera Wang at the 2018 Met Gala.
126 of 138Kylie Jenner wearing Alexander Wang
Kylie Jenner wearing Alexander Wang at the 2018 Met Gala.
127 of 138Amal Clooney wearing Richard Quinn at the 2018 Met Gala.
Amal Clooney wearing Richard Quinn at the 2018 Met Gala.
128 of 138Cara Delevingne wearing Dior at the 2018 Met Gala.
Cara Delevingne wearing Dior at the 2018 Met Gala.
129 of 138Madonna wearing Jean Paul Gaultier at the 2018 Met Gala.
Madonna wearing Jean Paul Gaultier at the 2018 Met Gala.
130 of 138Vogue's Hamish Bowles in Maison Margiela Artisanal designed by John Galliano at the 2019 Met Gala.
Vogue's Hamish Bowles in Maison Margiela Artisanal designed by John Galliano at the 2019 Met Gala.
131 of 138Lady Gaga's Brandon Maxwell looks at the 2019 Met Gala.
Lady Gaga's Brandon Maxwell looks at the 2019 Met Gala.
132 of 138Billy Porter wore an incredible ensemble by The Blonds to the 2019 Met Gala.
Billy Porter wore an incredible ensemble by The Blonds to the 2019 Met Gala.
133 of 138Jemima Kirke and Lena Dunham wore Christopher Kane to the 2019 Met Gala.
Jemima Kirke and Lena Dunham wore Christopher Kane to the 2019 Met Gala.
134 of 138Alexa Chung in Alexa Chung at the 2019 Met Gala.
Alexa Chung in Alexa Chung at the 2019 Met Gala.
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135 of 138Janelle Monae in Christian Siriano at the 2019 Met Gala.
Janelle Monae in Christian Siriano at the 2019 Met Gala.
136 of 138Katy Perry
Katy Perry in the ultimate Insta-bait: space-hogging wings and a Versace dress for 2018's Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination.
137 of 138Princess Diana
Long before the Met Ball became synonymous with memes, there was true elegance, as epitomised by Princess Diana in John Galliano for Dior in 1996.
138 of 138Kim Kardashian
From the Givenchy gown that launched a thousand 'granny curtain' memes to a wet-look dress (custom Mugler), Kim K deserves her own chapter in Met Ball history.