The Met Gala red carpet typically starts around 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time and lasts for several hours, often until about 8:00 p.m., though there is no official end time. Celebrities arrive throughout this period, with many notable guests sometimes showing up late, even after the main red carpet coverage has ended

. For example, the 2025 Met Gala red carpet arrivals officially began at 5:30 p.m. ET, with the main red carpet activities continuing until around 8 p.m., but stars continued to trickle in after that

. The red carpet event is known for its extended duration, as it is a major highlight before the formal dinner and after-party inside the museum

. In summary:

• Start time: Approximately 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. ET
• Duration: Several hours, generally wrapping up around 8:00 p.m. ET but with arrivals sometimes later
• No official end time, with some celebrities arriving late into the evening

This extended red carpet period allows for a wide array of fashion moments and media coverage before the gala officially begins inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.