Venus Williams lands star role at 2026 Met Gala in fashion’s biggest night

Venus Williams will step into one of fashion’s most prestigious roles next year, as the seven-time Grand Slam champion has been announced as a co-chair for the 2026 Met Gala. The Metropolitan Museum of Art confirmed the news on Wednesday, placing Williams alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and longtime Vogue figure Anna Wintour for the event on May 4. The appointment marks another moment where tennis meets high fashion at the highest level.

Williams becomes the third former WTA World No. 1 to serve as co-chair in recent years, following her sister Serena in 2019 and Naomi Osaka in 2021. The tennis representation at the Met Gala has been notable with Roger Federer taking the same role in 2023. Williams’ selection reinforces her long-standing presence not only in tennis, but in broader cultural and artistic circles.

According to Vogue, the group of co-chairs are considered “major forces from the worlds of entertainment, sport, and, of course, fashion.” Together, they will oversee a theme titled “Costume Art.” As the magazine explains, the aim is to “explore the relationship between clothing and the body beneath,” placing a spotlight on how design interacts with identity, physicality, and humanity. It signals a more introspective, conceptual direction for the Gala’s 2026 edition.

The exhibition will feature a wide range of garments and artworks sourced from across The Met’s extensive collection. “The show — organized into a series of thematic body types, ranging from the Naked Body to the Pregnant Body and the Aging Body — will include garments and artworks from across The Met’s vast collection, and feature both historical and contemporary pieces from the Costume Institute,” Vogue detailed in its announcement. The structure suggests a blend of fashion history and artistic commentary.

Williams is no stranger to the Met Gala, having attended four of the last five editions. Her appearances have consistently drawn attention for her bold, purposeful styling choices. Last spring, she embraced a tennis-inspired concept for the “Superfine” theme, wearing a custom Lacoste look featuring a polo, skirt, and cape. Her growing comfort and creativity in fashion circles make her upcoming role a natural evolution of her presence at the event.

‘Queen V’ continues to make headlines both on and off the court, staging a notable comeback in the second half of 2025 by competing in several tournaments during the North American Swing. At 45 years old, Williams tallied some wins and solid performances, highlighted by her victory at the DC Open over world No. 35 Peyton Stearns. She also teamed up with Leylah Fernandez for the US Open doubles, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to the world No. 1 duo of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend.

Recently, Williams competed in the Charlotte Invitational, an exhibition where she faced Madison Keys. The reigning Australian Open champion took the victory 7-6, 6-0. The same exhibition featured an all-American men's clash, where Frances Tiafoe defeated Taylor Fritz in a tight third-set tie-break.

Williams has already confirmed her return to the courts for an official tournament at the start of 2026, as she is entered in the ASB Classic in Auckland after receiving a wildcard from the organizers. The 7-time major champion won the title there in 2015 (defeating Caroline Wozniacki) and finished as runner-up in 2014.

This will be the first time since Wimbledon 2023 that Williams has chosen to play a tournament outside the United States. Everything indicates that she is preparing for a potential appearance at the Australian Open—for which she would need a wildcard, something expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.