The Story Behind the 2025 Met Gala Blue Carpet: A Night Sky from India to New York

At the 2025 Met Gala, the legendary “red carpet” was reimagined: this year, attendees ascended the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a midnight blue expanse, scattered with white and yellow narcissus blooms. Far from a simple aesthetic shift, the carpet’s design was a profound artistic statement, rooted in myth, self-reflection, and the spirit of renewal-a story that resonates from New York to India and beyond.

A Carpet Inspired by Art and Myth

The visionary behind this transformation was artist Cy Gavin, who drew inspiration from the narcissus flower-commonly known as the daffodil-that grew outside his studio in upstate New York. For Gavin, the daffodil’s emergence each spring symbolizes new beginnings, perfectly mirroring the Met Gala’s timing on the first Monday of May, when the city shakes off winter and the world’s fashion elite gather to celebrate creativity.

But Gavin’s vision went deeper. The narcissus flower’s name traces back to the Greek myth of Narcissus, a tale of self-recognition and the perils of vanity. Gavin was captivated by the moment when Narcissus first sees his own reflection-a powerful metaphor for self-awareness and identity. “I became interested in that moment of self-recognition and appreciation,” he told Vogue, noting how easily our sense of self can be obscured by the identities others project onto us. This theme resonated with the Met’s 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which explores Black dandyism and personal identity.

From Painting to Carpet: The Creative Process

Gavin channeled these ideas into his painting, “Untitled (Sky),” where narcissus blossoms float like stars in a night sky. This artwork became the blueprint for the Met Gala’s blue carpet, realized in collaboration with set designer Derek McLane and event planner Raúl Àvila. The result: a sprawling, starry field of narcissus flowers underfoot, transforming the museum’s entrance into a celestial dreamscape.

The motif extended beyond the carpet. Over 7,000 narcissus flowers were suspended as a centerpiece inside the museum, echoing the night sky and the sense of wonder that comes with new beginnings and self-discovery.

A Global Symbol: From India to the World

For Indian attendees and viewers, the carpet’s story carries special resonance. The narcissus, while rooted in Greek mythology, is a flower that blooms across continents-including in the Himalayan foothills of India, where it heralds the arrival of spring and is woven into poetry and art. The blue carpet’s night-sky effect, dotted with golden blooms, evoked the feeling of a Mughal miniature or a Rajasthani night garden, blending global influences into a singular, magical moment.

A Lasting Impression

Though the blue carpet was rolled up after the gala, its impact endures in thousands of photographs capturing stars-Pharrell Williams, Savannah James, and many more-ascending into fashion history. The carpet became more than a backdrop; it was an invitation to reflect on identity, legacy, and the beauty of seeing oneself clearly, even amid the world’s gaze.

In 2025, the Met Gala’s carpet told a story as rich and layered as the garments that swept across it-a story that began with a flower in upstate New York, blossomed through myth and art, and found new meaning under the feet of the world’s most celebrated icons.