Zendaya to skip Met Gala 2026 amid hectic film promotions; gears up for 'The Odyssey' and 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' releases

Fashion's biggest night, the Met Gala will be held on Monday, May 4. While fans are buzzing with excitement to see which celeb will strut down the iconic staircase, Zendaya will be notably absent.According to reports on Elle, the actress, who has been on a roll this year with her long list of film and television projects, will be skipping the Met Gala 2026, amid a hectic promotional schedule for her film lineup. The actress has reportedly decided to take a step back from the spotlight following back-to-back press tours for 'The Drama' and 'Euphoria' Season 3 last month.Zendaya was last seen attending the Met Gala in 2025, where she turned heads in an all-white ensemble by Louis Vuitton. This year, however, her schedule appears stacked with three more film promotions to complete before she wraps up the year. Come July the actress has Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' and the Marvel superhero film 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' gearing up for their releases. This time around, she will have her rumoured husband, Tom Holland by her side. She will end the year with 'Dune: Part Three' which is slated for a December 18 release.Meanwhile, the 2026 Met Gala is set to feature an impressive lineup of co-chairs, including Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, alongside long-time organiser Anna Wintour. A host committee led by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz includes names such as Sabrina Carpenter, Teyana Taylor, Lena Dunham and Misty Copeland.Known for its exclusivity, the Met Gala hosts around 400 guests each year, with individual tickets priced at USD 100,000 and tables starting at USD 350,000. The evening typically features a red carpet showcase followed by a private dinner and exhibition viewing inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.