PACO Collective

The Met Gala has always been about more than fashion. It’s been a signal of what, and who, matters in culture.

But in 2026, that signal feels…complicated.

With Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez stepping in as co-chairs and major donors, the conversation has shifted beyond the red carpet. Critics are questioning what happens when extreme wealth becomes this embedded in cultural institutions—and whether influence is starting to look a lot like ownership.

At the same time, the internet has changed how we engage with moments like this. The Met Gala used to set the tone. Now it’s reacting to a culture that moves faster, questions more, and isn’t as easily impressed.

So the real question isn’t just “who wore it best?”
It’s whether the Met Gala still holds the same cultural weight it once did or if it’s becoming something else entirely.

What do you think—still relevant, or past its peak?

Juneteenth, a day commemorating date the last enslaved people in the US learned of their freedom, is still the most recently named federal holiday in the US. ​

If you’re wondering how to celebrate or honor the day, here are some events taking place around Chicago.