London witnessed its own answer to the Met Gala last night as the British Museum hosted the city&rsquo;s first-ever Pink Ball,&nbsp;a glittering fundraiser that blended art, culture, and glamour under one historic roof. From Naomi Campbell and Mick Jagger to Janet Jackson and Sonam Kapoor, more than 800 high-profile guests graced the museum&rsquo;s Great Court in an evening designed to &ldquo;celebrate London&rsquo;s status as a global cultural capital.&rdquo;
The evening, themed entirely in shades of pink inspired by the museum&rsquo;s Ancient India: Living Traditions exhibition, was co-chaired by arts patron and Reliance director Isha Ambani. Guests dined beside ancient artifacts, sipped champagne in the Round Reading Room, and enjoyed a captivating performance by Grammy-nominated sitarist Anoushka Shankar. &ldquo;They will look beautiful, very elegant, very cinematic,&rdquo; said museum director Nicholas Cullinan, describing the transformed galleries.
The pink carpet, custom-designed lighting, and India-inspired menu added to the night&rsquo;s grandeur and purpose. Each &pound;2,000 ticket contributed to raising vital funds for the museum&rsquo;s global partnerships and its upcoming &pound;1-billion redevelopment project. A silent auction added to the allure, featuring exclusive prizes such as a pet portrait by Tracey Emin and private access to Coco Chanel&rsquo;s Paris apartment.
Despite inevitable comparisons to New York&rsquo;s Met Gala, Cullinan insisted the British Museum&rsquo;s ball had &ldquo;Met Gala ambition with UK uniqueness.&rdquo; &ldquo;It&rsquo;s flattering that people are making the comparison, but that wasn&rsquo;t our intention,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our guest list is deliberately more diverse reflecting the wonderful diversity of culture in London.&rdquo; By night&rsquo;s end, the Pink Ball had reportedly raised over &pound;1.6 million, marking the birth of what many are calling the new crown jewel of London&rsquo;s social calendar.

Brit Gala: London’s New Pink Affair Shines

The British Museum’s Pink Ball dazzles London with Met Gala flair and Indian hues

Brit Gala: London’s New Pink Affair Shines

The British Museum’s Pink Ball dazzles London with Met Gala flair and Indian hues

October 19, 2025 | 15:14 IST