Francesc Planes captures candid photos inside Met Gala 2026

Q: Beyond Vogue's photos, how was the strict no-phone policy enforced among hundreds of high-profile guests to maintain the event's privacy?

The no-phone rule was enforced mainly through advance warnings, strong social pressure, and the threat of serious consequences rather than any publicly described mass phone-confiscation system. Guests were told before the gala that phones could not be used inside for photography or social media. That instruction was part of the event’s mandatory rules, and reporting around the Met Gala has long noted that violating those rules can lead to a lifetime ban from future invitations. For an event where access is highly prized, that threat is a powerful deterrent. Enforcement was also supported by the gala’s broader security operation. The Met Gala is run under tight perimeter control, with extensive security staffing, surveillance, and restricted access around the museum. Those measures are designed for overall control and privacy, and they help discourage guests from openly breaking rules inside. Just as important was the culture of the event itself. Anna Wintour has framed the policy as a way to keep guests engaged with one another rather than documenting the night online, and among attendees, using a phone inside is widely understood to be frowned upon. That said, the policy has never been perfectly airtight. Over the years, some celebrities have still managed to post the occasional bathroom selfie or short inside video. So in practice, privacy was maintained through a mix of explicit rules, reputational pressure, and the risk of being shut out of the gala in the future.

3 articles · Updated · Vogue · May 5

The Paris-based photographer documented guests at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art after the carpet and livestream ended, for Vogue’s exclusive inside look.
Attendees visited the new Condé M. Nast Galleries, viewed the spring exhibition “Costume Art”, and attended a garden-inspired dinner at the Temple of Dendur.
The images offer rare access to the gala’s private moments, where interior photography is scarce beyond occasional forbidden bathroom selfies and performances by Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Knicks.