British Museum to host London Met Gala-style fundraiser at Frieze

The British Museum is launching its own version of the Met Gala in London, inviting high-profile guests to an Oct. 18 fundraiser staged during Frieze London. Director Nicholas Cullinan hopes the event will become a fixture of the capital’s social calendar, drawing elites from entertainment, business, politics and sport, The Times reported Friday. The museum’s plan signals a bold attempt to reconcile fashion’s biggest night with a cultural institution best known for its antiquities and global exhibitions.

The proposed London gala would bring together luxury brands and fashion houses to help spotlight the capital’s cultural scene, with Vogue historically involved in shaping the US Met Gala’s themes. The guest list is expected to reach several hundred attendees from tech, sports, arts and entertainment, according to The Times. This year’s Met Gala in New York raised $31 million—the highest amount in its 77-year history.

The British Museum confirmed the plans on Friday night, saying proceeds would support international partnerships rather than redevelopment. Two years ago, the institution signaled a need for substantial funds to finance a £1 billion redevelopment to create new visitor facilities and overhaul aging infrastructure. That context helped fuel debate over funding strategies, including a controversial £50 million, ten-year sponsorship deal with BP, which drew scrutiny from some cultural observers while others praised the museum for securing private support. Other UK institutions have faced similar pressures; for instance, the National Gallery recently announced two donations of £150 million each, described by its director as among the largest single gifts the sector has seen.

Industry observers note the London event would be distinct in its execution, aiming to celebrate the city’s cultural ecosystem while maintaining the glamour associated with the Met Gala. Helen Brocklebank, chief executive of Walpole, a body representing British luxury brands, said the goal was to blend “Met Gala ambition with UK uniqueness.” The Times quoted her on the balance between spectacle and a distinctly British approach to philanthropy and partnerships.

Officials say the London gala is intended to augment the museum’s broader international outreach, rather than simply fund capital projects. In that spirit, organizers have highlighted existing collaborations in Ghana and Armenia, as well as ongoing archaeological excavations in Iraq and Benin City, with the potential for greater cross-border cultural exchange. There is also talk of leveraging the event to support moves to bring iconic artifacts, such as the Bayeux Tapestry, to Britain for exhibition.

If the project proceeds as planned, the British Museum’s Met Gala-style fundraiser could become a landmark moment in the city’s social and cultural calendar, blending high fashion, charity and global partnerships in a way that mirrors the New York event while injecting a distinctly London flavor into the spectacle.