London gets its own Met Gala: the British Museum to host a charity ball

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The British Museum has announced the launch of its first-ever British Museum Ball, set to become a new highlight of London’s social calendar. The event’s main goal is to raise funds for the museum’s international partnerships and the expansion of its programmes beyond the UK. Fresh from London — news from Afisha.London.

The ball will take place on 18 October, marking the finale of the exhibition Ancient India: Living Traditions, which features over two millennia of artefacts related to Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The theme of the evening is pink — inspired by the colours and light of India.

Спектакль "Привидение" 16 ноября

The project is led by the museum’s director Nicholas Cullinan, with Isha Ambani, philanthropist and founder of the NMACC cultural centre in Mumbai, serving as co-chair.

The organising committee is nothing short of dazzling: designers Miuccia Prada, Bella Freud, Philip Treacy, and Giles Deacon; artists and writers Zadie Smith, Grayson Perry, and Hew Locke; fashion icons Naomi Campbell and Edward Enninful; and actor Idris Elba alongside model Alexa Chung. In total, the list includes more than a hundred prominent names.

Great Court. Photo: Christian Lendl / Unsplash

Invitations have already been sent out. Participation costs £2,000, with all proceeds supporting the museum’s cultural initiatives — including the upcoming exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry, scheduled to open in September 2026.

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The evening promises to be spectacular: a cocktail reception in the majestic Great Court, followed by dinner among the museum’s most famous artefacts. The programme includes performances by sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar, conductor and composer Jules Buckley with his orchestra, and a special guest whose name remains a mystery. A silent auction will also take place during the event.

Around 800 guests are expected from around the world. The date coincides with both the BFI London Film Festival and Frieze London, ensuring a glittering crowd of international celebrities.

Cover photo: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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