Newlywed Venus Williams Steals the Met Gala Spotlight Five Months After Tying the Knot

Venus Williams did not tiptoe into the 2026 Met Gala. She rolled up as a cochair, nailed the theme, and slipped in a very Venus trophy flex for good measure.

The look (and the easter eggs)

On Monday, May 4, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the 45-year-old tennis icon went all in on this year’s theme, 'Costume Art.' Her black crystal mesh gown was a direct nod to Robert Pruitt’s portrait 'Venus Williams, Double Portrait,' which was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. The necklace? Nearly a match to the one in the painting and modeled after the Venus Rosewater Dish — the Wimbledon Ladies’ singles trophy. If that sounds specific, it is, and yes, she owns the real thing five times over.

Sharing the big chair

Venus attended as a cochair, alongside Nicole Kidman, Beyonce, and Anna Wintour. And in a nice bit of symmetry, she’s following her sister’s path here — Serena Williams cochaired the gala back in 2019.

Her Met Gala track record

• 2008: Debut in a metallic strapless Carolina Herrera gown.
• 2021: Return after more than a decade in a regal red Prabal Gurung.
• 2022: Switched it up with a black Law Roach pantsuit.
• 2024: Went full sparkle in a mirror-disc embroidered Marc Jacobs gown.
• 2025: A sporty wink to her roots in green Lacoste, echoing a tennis skirt and polo.

Newlywed era, fully activated

Venus hitting the carpet as a cochair comes just shy of five months after her wedding to Andrea Preti, 37. The timeline, because it’s a ride: they were first linked in July 2024, confirmed their engagement in July 2025, and had an unofficial ceremony in Italy that September. Why unofficial? The red tape in Italy takes a while when you’re the non-Italian partner — she said it could be about eight months — so they saved the paperwork for later.

The legal 'I do' happened at a courthouse the day before their big Palm Beach celebration in December 2025, which unfolded over five days with family and friends. She told Vogue it was basically the happiest, calmest, most beautiful whirlwind — sacred and exciting and, in her words, a dream.

Big sister energy

After the wedding news went public, Serena showed up in the comments section like only Serena can, posting a heartfelt tribute on Instagram in December 2025. It was gushy in the best way, and this line stuck:

'Watching you step into this next chapter surrounded by love felt like watching the sun rise ... steady, powerful and full of promise.'

'I couldn’t be prouder to stand beside you, not just today, but always.'

So, in short: Venus cochaired the Met, wore art history with a Wimbledon twist, and did it all in the middle of a very happy newlywed chapter. That’s a win on every court.