Venus Williams to co-chair 2026 Met Gala with Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Anna Wintour

Venus Williams will serve at the Met Gala on a new level in 2026, the former world No. 1 set to co-chair the famed fashion event alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour.

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The quartet will collaborate on a theme entitled “Costume Art,” which will debut in celebration of the Costume Institute exhibition next spring.

Williams becomes the third WTA world No. 1 in recent years to co-chair the Gala, with younger sister Serena serving as co-chair in 2019 and Naomi Osaka taking on the role in 2021.

A seven-time Grand Slam champion, Venus Williams has been a longtime fixture on the Met Gala’s red carpet, appearing in a high-fashion athletic ensemble—topped with a glittering cape—designed by Lacoste.

The tenniscore tribute was in theme with the “Tailored for You” dress code, and her hair was styled in homage to the iconic beads she wore on court at the start of a tennis career that now spans over three decades—and counting.

Williams, who confirmed her engagement to actor Andrea Preti two weeks ago, was back on the tennis court this summer to compete at an astounding 25th US Open. The two-time champion pushed two-time semifinalist Karolina Muchova to three sets in the first round and reached the quarterfinals of women’s doubles with partner Leylah Fernandez.

Hopes of a Williams sisters tennis reunion were fueled earlier this month when it was revealed that sister Serena had rejoined the anti-doping protocol, clearing the way for a possible comeback in 2026. Serena has shot down the idea for the time being, but Venus still hopes to see her sister on court in the future.

“I keep saying to my team, ‘The only thing that would make this better is if she was here,’ like we always did everything together, so of course I miss her. But if she comes back, I'm sure she'll let y'all know,” she teased at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in July.