Met Gala 2025: No phones, no garlic, no smoking - the biggest fashion exhibit enforces a strict rulebook

File Photo of Anna Wintour (Photo: Reuters)

The Met Gala 2025 is finally here, dazzling the world once again at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

While the red carpet serves as fashion’s most talked-about runway, what happens beyond the flashes of paparazzi is kept strictly under wraps — and for good reason.

The event, hosted annually by Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, follows an elaborate playbook that keeps the night elegant, exclusive, and meticulously controlled.

This year’s theme, Tailored for You, coincides with the Costume Institute’s exhibit Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, a tribute to Black Dandyism and the enduring legacy of Black designers in tailoring.

Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh set for MET Gala 2025 debut but he is still figuring out what to wear

Here are the key rules and behind-the-scenes protocols that shape the Met Gala experience:

No phones or selfies
The use of phones is strictly forbidden inside the Met Gala. Despite the social media dominance of many attendees, no content from the private dinner, exhibition tour, or performance is allowed to be shared. Still, bathroom mirror selfies continue to sneak their way online, thanks to a few bold rule-breakers.

No garlic, onion, or parsley
The dinner menu is curated with photos — and breath — in mind. Guests won’t find garlic, onion, or parsley on their plates to avoid bad breath or green bits in teeth. Messy foods like bruschetta are also banned to protect couture gowns from accidental spills.

No smoking indoors

Smoking is completely banned inside the museum, not just for health but to protect the irreplaceable fashion archive. Curator Andrew Bolton once shared that smoking in the galleries is one of the surest ways to never receive another invite.

No free entry — even for celebs
The gala is an invite-only fundraiser, but entry isn’t free. In 2024, a single ticket reportedly cost $75,000, and a table ran up to $350,000. Often, fashion houses cover the cost in exchange for the visibility their designs receive on the red carpet.

Outfit approval by Anna Wintour
Attendees must have their Met Gala look approved personally by Wintour. The fashion world even has a shorthand for it - AWOK (Anna Wintour Okay).

Strictly planned seating chart
Guests can’t choose their seats. The seating arrangement is curated over months with an emphasis on social dynamics — and couples are usually seated separately to encourage networking.

Some of the biggest Indian names like Shah Rukh Khan, Kiara Advani and Diljit Dosanjh will be making their debut appearances at Met Gala this year.