As the fashion world descends upon the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala 2026, one legendary name is notably absent from the guest list: Meryl Streep. Despite her recent resurgence in the fashion world with the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, the three-time Oscar winner has opted to skip Fashion’s Biggest Night.
While Streep has never attended a Met Gala in her five-decade career, her absence this year is particularly striking given that she was reportedly in talks to serve as a co-chair. Here is the breakdown of why the real-life Miranda Priestly won’t be climbing the iconic steps this May.
Why Meryl Streep Turned Down a Co-Chair Role at Met Gala 2026?
This year’s Met Gala is not the same as we have seen over the years. Anna Wintour, who has been the chairwoman of the event for over 30 years, will be there, but with a twist. This year, Amazon founder and tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, will serve as honorary co-chairs (via Page Six).
This marks a shift towards a heavy corporate influence over the event, as the duo reportedly paid at least $10 million to sponsor the event. This has led to severe backlash from fans and fashion icons, with many calling for a boycott of the event.
As the Daily Mail reported, this is allegedly the reason why Meryl Streep pulled out of being a co-chair and will be skipping the event this year as well. A representative for the star told Metro that the highly prestigious fashion event has never been her scene.
Meryl has been invited to the Met Gala for many years but has never attended. While she appreciates Vogue, Anna, and her incredible imagination and stamina, it has never quite been her scene.
On a more practical level, Streep has just completed a grueling global press tour for The Devil Wears Prada 2, which opened in theaters on May 1, 2026. Having spent that much time travelling and doing press, it is only natural that she would need a period of rest and social detox rather than attend a high-profile red carpet.
Other Celebrities Not Attending Met Gala 2026
Zendaya | Credits: HBO
This year, Meryl Streep is not the only heavy hitter missing from the Met Gala 2026. The reigning queen of the Met red carpet, Zendaya, will reportedly be absent this year.
As Elle reported, Zendaya would be sitting this one out after having gruelling back-to-back press tours for The Drama and Euphoria Season 3. The actress wants to take a rest and will reportedly not be in New York City when the event takes place.
The actress has also begun promotions for her two upcoming projects: The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, along with her partner, Tom Holland.
Other celebrities not attending the event are Lauren Santo Domingo, who will be skipping this season, and Billy Porter, who has reportedly not been invited since 2019 (via Just Jared). Despite these absences, the gala remains a star-studded affair with a diverse group of co-chairs presiding over the “Costume Art” exhibition.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Met? Let us know in the comments below.
Watch the 2026 Met Gala red carpet on May 4, 2026, at 6 PM EDT on Vogue’s official website, YouTube, or TikTok!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
