People’s Ball presents different perspective on fashion as Met Gala faces criticism

On the eve of the 2026 Met Gala, as fashion’s most exclusive night faces growing criticism for being out of step with the public, another event in New York offers a different vision of what fashion can look like when it is not filtered through access, status, or cost.

The People’s Ball returns to the Central Library in Brooklyn as a free, open event that invites the public not to observe fashion, but to take part in it. Attendees are encouraged to arrive dressed in the clothing that reflects their own sense of identity and walk the runway themselves, turning the evening into a collective expression of personal style rather than a curated spectacle.

At the center of the event is Souleo, co-creator and co-curator, whose work with institutions such as the New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and Brooklyn Public Library has consistently focused on amplifying culture through accessibility.

His role shapes both the tone and the structure of the evening, positioning the event as a space where fashion is not assigned value from the top down, but built from the people who participate in it.

This year’s program is tied to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, using that milestone to reflect on the legacy of American fashion and the individuals who have influenced its direction over time.

The event will honor Bethann Hardison, whose advocacy reshaped conversations about diversity in the fashion industry; June Ambrose, whose work in music, film, and fashion helped define the visual identity of hip-hop culture globally; and Patricia Michaels of Taos Pueblo, whose designs integrate Indigenous artistry into contemporary couture and expand the boundaries of what American fashion represents.

The full program reflects a range of artistic disciplines that extend beyond fashion alone. Melba Moore, the Tony Award-winning performer and three-time Grammy nominee, will headline the evening’s live performance, bringing a career that spans Broadway and music into the space.

DJ Fritzo will lead the music throughout the night. The Brooklyn native brings a background — from time spent in the Brooklyn Public Library system to studies at Cornell University and Howard University — that informs a style that merges classic and contemporary sounds while drawing together audiences across generations.

Also participating is Ariel Polanco, a Bronx-born actor, dancer, and speaker whose career reflects the long-term impact of arts education in New York City. His work, which has taken him from local classrooms to international stages in countries including Italy, Turkey, and Japan, adds another layer to the event’s focus on creative development and representation.

Beau McCall, known for constructing visual and wearable works using hand-sewn buttons, created the evening’s honoree awards. His pieces, which often address themes of culture and social commentary, are in major collections, including the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles, and Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The event begins with “Pose on the Plaza” at 6:00 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30, allowing participants to gather outside before moving into the library’s main space. The setting itself — a public library — reinforces the event’s intent to remain accessible, placing fashion in a civic space rather than behind closed institutional doors.

The People’s Ball is presented as an alternative to high-cost, invitation-only galas and reflects the diversity of style throughout New York City, drawing from the streets as much as from formal fashion spaces. Its timing, directly alongside the Met Gala, underscores the contrast without needing to state it outright.

Supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, with additional backing from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the event continues to position itself in a larger cultural conversation about who fashion is for and where it lives.

In a city where style has always existed far beyond the confines of invitation lists, the People’s Ball places that reality at the center, giving space to the individuals who define fashion every day, regardless of whether they are formally recognized by the industry.