The Met Gala red carpet typically begins in the late morning to early afternoon in New York, with television coverage starting around 8:00 p.m. ET and red carpet segments airing broadly between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. ET. The event is held annually on the first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and it is produced by Vogue with the Costume Institute benefiting from ticket, donation, and sponsorship revenue. Planning to watch? Live streams and broadcast windows vary by network and region, and official schedules are announced closer to the date.
Red Carpet Timing by Region and Time Zone
Coverage of the Met Gala red carpet and the main ceremony is coordinated across multiple time zones to serve international audiences. Start times below are approximate and may vary slightly depending on programming, preemption, or regional adjustments by broadcasters.
| Region / Time Zone | Red Carpet Start (approx.) | Live Ceremony Start (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time (New York) | 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Primary U.S. feed; networks may stagger pre-shows |
| Central Time | 12:00–2:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Central live coverage of red carpet and show |
| Mountain Time | 1:00–3:00 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | Mountain delayed relative to Eastern start |
| Pacific Time | 2:00–4:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Pacific live coverage; red carpet often concludes before ceremony |
| GMT / UTC | 4:00–6:00 p.m. | 1:00–2:00 a.m. (+1) | Varies by UK and European broadcaster schedules |
| AEST / AEDT (Australia) | 5:00–7:00 a.m. (+1 day) | 2:00–4:00 p.m. (+1 day) | Australian Eastern times; check local listings for exact windows |
| CET / EET (Europe) | 5:00–7:00 p.m. | 2:00–4:00 a.m. (+1) | Primarily live streams and delayed highlights; primetime programming may show edited segments |
Where to Watch the Red Carpet Live
- Television: Live coverage typically airs on CBS, which holds U.S. broadcast rights, and is often simulcast on sister networks. Local affiliates adjust feeds for time zone differences.
- Streaming: Live streams are available on platforms including Paramount+, CBSAllAccess (now Paramount+), and selected international partners. Regional services may enforce geo-blocks.
- International: Broadcasters such as BBC (UK), Citytv (Canada), and regional networks in Europe and Asia may air delayed highlights or live segments; check local schedules.
- Digital: Official channels include Vogue’s website and social properties, where clips, interviews, and minute-by-minute updates may be posted during the event.
Event Structure and Timing Logic
The Met Gala red carpet is staged ahead of the main Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Arrival windows for celebrities and guests are generally concentrated in a multi-hour block in late morning and early afternoon Eastern Time. This schedule accommodates global media logistics, coordination with the Costume Institute’s annual exhibition opening, and evening festivities that follow the red carpet. Travel, security, and hospitality protocols influence exact timings, so while the pattern is consistent, minute-by-minute schedules can shift year to year.
Typical Daily Timeline (Eastern Time)
- 10:00–11:00 a.m.: Media setup and accreditation checks
- 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.: Primary red carpet arrivals and interviews
- 1:00–3:00 p.m.: Continued arrivals, photo opportunities, and pre-show segments
- 6:00–7:30 p.m.: Gala arrivals and final preparations
- 8:00 p.m.: Live broadcast of the Gala begins on the main runway and presentations
How to Plan Around the Red Carpet
If you are coordinating coverage for news, editorial content, or social posts, align your planning with confirmed U.S. Eastern start windows and check network press kits for precise minute-by-minute lineups closer to the event. For viewers in other regions, convert local time to Eastern using standard offsets and verify local listings, as some broadcasts air highlights rather than full live coverage. The consistent element across years is that the red carpet precedes the televised Gala by several hours, with arrivals concentrated in a predictable midday-to-early-afternoon block in New York.