India Needs Its Own Met Gala And It’s About Time

What if the world’s most stylish night wasn’t in New York… but perhaps Jaipur? What if the red carpet shimmered with brocade and zardozi instead of sequins and silk? What if India, a country that has dressed the world in colour, craft, and couture for centuries, finally hosted a gala that celebrated its own creative legacy with the same global pomp and purpose as the Met Gala?

A bold question, perhaps. But one whose time has come.

Proof That India’s Craftsmanship is Already Walking the Red Carpet

If you think India’s connection to global fashion events is aspirational, think again, it’s already happening. In fact, the iconic carpet at the 2025 Met Gala was not just a backdrop to the world’s most photographed couture, it was created in Kerala.

Crafted by Neytt by Extraweave, a design house based in Alappuzha, the stunning deep-blue carpet spanned a massive 63,000 square feet, made from ethically sourced sisal fibres from Madagascar, and hand-painted in New York under the creative direction of artist Cy Gavin. It was their third consecutive year creating the Met Gala carpet quietly putting Indian artisanship at the literal feet of global icons.

This isn't just a proud moment, it's a powerful reminder that India isn’t waiting for a seat at the table. We’re already shaping the tablecloth.

So why not bring it home? Why shouldn’t India host a cultural gala that celebrates our fashion and creativity and centres our heritage, causes, and communities on a global stage?

A Fashion Renaissance Rooted in Heritage

India is no stranger to grandeur. From the silken drapes of Varanasi to the earthy weaves of Kutch, our fashion is centuries-old yet perennially new. Indian designers are not just tailors of beauty, they’re custodians of culture. But while their work graces international red carpets, the country itself lacks a flagship fashion event that matches the scale, cultural ambition, and prestige of the Met Gala.

India’s Couture Gala. An idea, a movement, and hopefully, a night where India takes the global stage not as an exotic muse but as the main act.

The majestic City Palace in Jaipur, or the glowing sands of Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan or Taj Falaknuma Palace, with its sprawling marble staircases and chandeliered ballrooms. Royal domes lit by candlelight. A red carpet that isn’t just walked, but witnessed. Draped in Kanjeevaram silk capes, experimental bandhgalas, and temple jewellery reimagined as headpieces. Each ensemble tells of dynasties, dyes, and dreams.

There would be performances of classical dance during the sundowner, live loom installation from Varanasi’s master weavers, and curated exhibitions tracing the stories of Indian textiles from temple rituals to global runways. Dinner? A culinary homage to the subcontinent, from the spice markets of Kochi to the royal kitchens of Awadh, all plated like fine art. A farm-to-table royal feast inspired by India’s culinary geography.

A Gala With a Purpose

While the glamour and grandeur of an Indian Met Gala would undoubtedly capture the world's attention, its true legacy could lie in what it gives back. Much like the original Met Gala in New York, which raises millions annually for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, the Indian edition could serve as a fundraiser for causes deeply rooted in the country’s reality.

How inspirational it would be! The country’s most celebrated designers, artists, actors, and entrepreneurs come together not just to exhibit creativity but to support life-changing initiatives, whether it’s funding cancer treatment for underprivileged patients, supporting women’s health and education, preserving India’s endangered crafts, or empowering rural artisans. The convergence of art, identity, and responsibility could create a cultural event that’s not only iconic but transformative.

By giving the spotlight to both style and substance, an Indian Met Gala could redefine what it means to be influential, where fashion serves a purpose and heritage and history inspire healing. 

Each year would come with a theme that reflects India’s ever-evolving aesthetic — “The Sacred Thread”, honouring ancient weaving traditions, “Epic Couture”, drawing from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, or “Bazaar to Runway,” elevating everyday Indian street fashion into statement pieces.

Our designers, Sabyasachi, Rahul Mishra, Gaurav Gupta, Manish Malhotra, and Tarun TahilianiTarun Tahiliani, have already dressed the world. But the Indian Met Gala would give them a stage at home, in front of the world, to redefine Indian couture beyond bridal, beyond costume.

Redefining Influence

The gala could bring together not only Bollywood celebrities and designers but also artists, artisans, scholars, social entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. The red carpet could highlight conscious creativity, responsible luxury, and inclusive narratives. Stars wearing an ensemble co-created with rural craftswomen, or a designer using fashion as a statement on sustainability or mental health awareness. That’s when fashion becomes more than a look, it becomes a language.

The Guests Who Could Make It Iconic

India’s cultural capital extends far beyond its fashion weeks. The Indian Met Gala would be where Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh meet Anamika Khanna and Aditi Rao Hydari. Where global icons like Zendaya or Naomi Campbell could grace the red carpet in Indian couture curated by local designers. Influencers like Dolly Singh or Kusha Kapila and many others, who have risen from Instagram reels to international runways, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Bollywood royalty.

But what would make the Gala truly different is who else is invited — the karigars, the rangrez, the grassroots designers, the artisans who spin dreams into the fabric. Like Nancy Tyagi, the small-town girl who made headlines for walking Cannes in her own label, getting the same applause as a movie star. That’s what the India Met Gala would celebrate.

Indian Met Gala as a Cultural Milestone 

As the world looks to India for inspiration, be it in cinema, couture, wellness, or heritage, there has never been a better time to create a cultural milestone that is both aspirational and accountable. An Indian Met Gala could become an annual tradition that not only showcases the best of Indian aesthetics but also champions causes that shape the nation's future.

Because when India does something, it does it with depth. And if it chooses to host a Met Gala of its own, let it not just be a celebration of beauty, but a movement of meaning.

It’s not a question of if India should host its own Met Gala. 
It’s a question of when. 
And that moment, glittering, glorious, grounded in tradition yet walking boldly into the future, is ready to arrive. India has the story. 
India has the soul. 
Now it’s time for India to take the stage.