Venus Williams compares co-chairing Met Gala to Grand Slam event

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams was one of four co-chairs of the 2026 Met Gala.

The tennis legend joined Anna Wintour, Beyonce and Nicole Kidman to put on New York City’s biggest night in fashion. Beyond giving the world’s biggest celebrities the chance to show off their style, the event raised a record $42 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute on Monday night.

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After the event, TMZ Sports caught up with Williams at a Raising Cane’s in NYC. She compared her duties behind the scenes at the gala to playing in a Grand Slam tennis event.

“I think preparing for the event was much tougher,” Williams said with a laugh.

Special dress for a big night

On top of her planning duties, Williams had to make sure she looked the part of a gala luminary. She wore a stunning Swarovski crystal-studded gown and flashy necklace that paid tribute to her tennis career.

Williams told the New York Post the dress was inspired by Robert Pruitt’s painting “Venus Williams, Double Portrait.”

“This dress alone took about five hours of fittings,” Williams told TMZ Sports. “Yeah, and everything that goes into getting ready. It’s like a marathon, literally.”

Accompanied by new husband Andrea Preti, Williams made the rounds at pre-gala parties thrown by Wintour and billionaire Jeff Bezos. Her sister and doubles partner, Serena Williams, also showed off her unique fashion style after serving as co-chair in 2019.

‘A real honor’

Despite the challenges, Venus Williams concluded co-chairing the Met Gala was a wonderful experience.

“The best part about being co-chair is definitely getting to spend time with Anna Wintour and the other co-chairs and also time with the designers. To be that close to fashion, all those things. But most of all, the honor of it all, it’s just a real honor,” Williams said.