How Did Anna Wintour Transform the Met Gala? New Documentary Dives into Her Impact on the Star-Studded Affair (Exclusive)
How Did Anna Wintour Transform the Met Gala? New Documentary Dives into Her Impact on the Star-Studded Affair (Exclusive)
Michelle LeeWed, April 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC
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Anna Wintour at the Jacquemus Men's show during Paris Fashion Week in January 2026Credit: Arnold Jerocki/Getty -
CNN is airing a new documentary about Anna Wintour ahead of the 2026 Met Gala on Monday, May 4
The special will portray the former Vogue editor-in-chief's influence on fashion and the industry's biggest night of the year
Wintour has played a crucial role in the star-studded gala since 1995, when she became co-chair. She became a chairperson in 1999
The 2026 Met Gala is shaping up to be quite the night, from the stacked lists of celebrities to the dress code. In celebration of the anticipated event, there's a new documentary out about the one and only Anna Wintour, who has been chair of the ball since 1995.
Behind the Bob: Vogue's Anna Wintour is a new hour-long CNN FlashDoc documentary special airing on Sunday, May 3, one night before this year's Met Gala, which is happening on Monday, May 4 (although it is now streaming on CNN.com/Watch and on the CNN app for subscribers).
As shared in a press release, Behind the Bob — which debuts under CNN Original Series and Films — will serve as a portrait of the "most influential figure in fashion" and explores Wintour's "decades-long reign as a defining force in global fashion and media" while challenging the "criticisms and controversies that have followed her career."
The project will also give a glimpse into how Wintour, a former Vogue editor, played a "pivotal role in elevating the Met Gala from a traditional society fundraiser into one of the most widely watched cultural events in the world."
The Met Gala, which is also called The Costume Institute Benefit, acts as both a high-profile fundraiser and a global celebration of fashion featuring celebrities from every corner of pop culture.
Founded in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the exclusive event started as a gala dinner among Manhattan socialites to raise money for the museum's annual exhibits. It has since evolved into a full-on costume party and red carpet extravaganza, drawing elite attendees across design, music, film, sports and politics. Wintour took the reins in 1995 as co-chair and then later sole chair in 1999.
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Anna Wintour attends the 2022 Met GalaCredit: Noam Galai/GC Images
Themes were first introduced in 1973 for designers and their celebrity guests to interpret through fashion, often resulting in some of the year's most gorgeous, visually arresting and, yes, controversial style moments.
Designers and industry insiders close to Wintour, including Isaac Mizrahi, Melitta Baumeister, journalist Michael Grynbaum, and Wintour's former Vogue colleagues Tonne Goodman, Sally Singer, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and William Norwich are featured in the special.
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This year's Met Gala dress code is "Fashion Is Art," which ties to the "Costume Art" exhibit and theme. Wintour will lead the event alongside co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams.
Behind the Bob: Vogue’s Anna Wintour will air Sunday, May 3 at 8 p.m. ET on CNN.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
