The Surprising Reason the Met Gala Carpet Turned Green
As celebrities and VIPs make their grand entrance at the Met Gala in their meticulously crafted looks, the first thing you might notice is that the red carpet isn't, well, red.
Raúl Àvila is the reason behind this year's green, garden-inspired walkway. He has designed every Met Gala since 2007 and has something special in mind to celebrate this year's theme, "Costume Art."
The 2026 design team included director BazLuhrmann and the award-winning set designer DerekMcLane. They were inspired by the Renaissance art period and decided the entryway should resemble Northern Italian gardens.
The mossy carpet is meant to illustrate a romantic atmosphere. According to Vogue, the A-list attendees are intended to be "immersed in a scene fit for a work of art, placing them-and the wearable art on their bodies-within the visual tradition of the surrounding pieces."
Apart from not being red, the carpet has another surprise: it doesn't appear to be a carpet. It was hand-painted to imitate a stone garden trail. The goal was to make it seem like it had "been there for a long time," said Àvila.
The carpet is complete with wall and ceiling adornments.
Vogue described the walkway's atmosphere as a "cloud of light purple, pink, and white wisteria, lining the tent's ceiling and walls. It is a mix of real wisteria and trompe l'oeil."
The texture of the walls gives it a "simplicity of modernity, which I think is right for this year," said McLane. "It's soft, it's romantic, it says spring."
The Met Gala is an annual charity fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The event typically coincides with the opening of the spring fashion exhibition. This year, the Met is welcoming nearly 12,000 square feet of Condé M. Nast Galleries.
Stay up to date on the exciting looks to grace the carpet with Parade's live coverage of the Met Gala, here!
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 6:43 PM.