Blue Ivy is underage, so how did she get into the 2026 Met Gala? Loophole explained

As the firstborn of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter is celebrity royalty. But her fame isn’t technically the reason she was able to attend the 2026 Met Gala last night despite not meeting the strict age policy. 

The event, which took place on Monday 4th May, is the most prestigious in fashion, with Vogue editor Anna Wintour carefully vetting the guest list. As such, there are multiple rules to take into consideration (not that they’re always followed). 

Phones aren’t allowed, for instance, although already we’ve seen bathroom selfies emerge online. There’s also the dress code – this year, the theme was “Costume Art”, representing fashion as an art form.

Another rule is that guests must be at least 18 years old to attend. But Blue Ivy – who made her feature film debut in 2024’s Mufasa: The Lion King – was born in January 2012, making her 14. 

How did Blue Ivy Carter get into the 2026 Met Gala?

Thankfully for her, there is a loophole to the age restriction: underage attendees can get in if they’re accompanied by their parents. Since Beyoncé and Jay-Z were right there on the red carpet with her, Blue Ivy was allowed in. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the age policy only came into effect in 2018, as revealed by Maddie Ziegler, who was 15 at that time. “I can’t go, because I’m not old enough,” she told the outlet. 

While the exact reasoning behind the restriction has never been formally confirmed, there has been plenty of speculation over the years.

When the policy was first introduced in 2018, some suggested it may have been linked to that year’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme, with rumours of guidelines influenced by the Catholic Church. 

Others believed it was more of a practical response to controversy at the 2017 edition, after several high-profile attendees were criticised for smoking in the museum’s bathrooms (although most of those involved were over the age of 18). 

But it’s widely understood to be simply part of a broader effort to maintain the Met Gala’s image as a more formal, tightly controlled event.

Beyoncé's full interview with VOGUE on the MET Gala carpet. 💎 pic.twitter.com/Yjb1NHCJi8

— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@BeyLegion) May 5, 2026

Even so, as Blue Ivy’s appearance shows, there are still exceptions when it comes to high-profile guests. It no doubt helped that Beyoncé was announced as a co-chair of the 2026 fundraiser. 

Speaking to Vogue at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bey said, “It feels surreal because my daughter is here. She looks so beautiful. It’s incredible to share it with her. She is ready.”

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Featured image credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock