British Museum announces Pink Ball, its answer to the Met Gala

The British Museum will host its inaugural Pink Ball on October 18, 2025, a fundraising gala conceived as a cultural event bridging fashion, art, and heritage. The ball is timed to coincide with the closing weekend of Frieze London and the BFI London Film Festival, aiming to attract international artists, curators, collectors, and celebrities. The theme is pink, inspired by the exhibition 'Ancient India: Living Traditions,' which closes that same weekend. Director Nicholas Cullinan emphasized the color must be 'neither too powdery nor too vivid.' The event is curated by Indian philanthropist and entrepreneur Isha Ambani, who will oversee a lavish setup with music and floral scenography. The organizing committee includes Miuccia Prada, Naomi Campbell, Manolo Blahnik, Roksanda Ilinčić, Courtney Love, Alexa Chung, Daphne Guinness, Bella Freud, Kristin Scott Thomas, Steve McQueen, Tracey Emin, and Grayson Perry. Proceeds will support the museum's international partnerships, research, and conservation projects. Cullinan and Ambani envision the Pink Ball as an annual fixture, positioning the British Museum as a hub for cross-disciplinary dialogue. The event is seen as London's answer to the Met Gala but with a more institutional focus, using fashion as a bridge between spectacle and cultural mission.