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Met Gala 2026: A night of costume art extravagance
The annual Met Gala, fashion's most anticipated event, returned in 2026 with a theme centered on costume art, inviting celebrities to interpret lavish and whimsical designs. The fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute drew a glittering crowd, with attendees pushing creative boundaries on the red carpet.
Opening performance sets the tone
Broadway star Joshua Henry kicked off the evening with a show-stopping rendition of I Wanna Dance With Somebody, accompanied by a live band and dancers. The Met's iconic steps were transformed into a lush garden, complete with mossy brick decor, setting the stage for the night's theatrical displays.
Co-chairs and A-list attendees
This year's event was co-chaired by singer Beyoncé, actress Nicole Kidman, tennis legend Venus Williams, and Vogue's Anna Wintour. The guest list included Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Naomi Osaka, and Angela Bassett, among others, with many celebrities drawing inspiration from famous artworks or artists for their outfits.
Beyoncé's triumphant return
Making her first Met Gala appearance in a decade, Beyoncé arrived in a monumental gown by French designer Olivier Rousteing. The ensemble featured an embellished skeleton design and a dramatic feathered cape. Accompanied by her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter Blue Ivy-one of the youngest guests at 14-Beyoncé told reporters, "It feels great to be here with my daughter and husband."
Iconic looks and artistic homages
Rihanna stunned in a custom Maison Margiela gown encrusted with jewels, while A$AP Rocky, last year's co-chair, wore a pink Chanel coat with black satin lapels. Anna Wintour, attending her first Gala since stepping down as Vogue's editor-in-chief, wore a feathery Chanel creation, marking her 30th year as a co-chair.
Nicole Kidman, another co-chair, donned a red beaded Chanel gown, while Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion, wore a sparkling black gown with a jewel-encrusted neckpiece. Serena Williams paid tribute to classical art with a silver Marc Jacobs design.
Standout moments and bold statements
Lauren Sánchez Bezos channeled John Singer Sargent's Madame X with her Schiaparelli gown, while Heidi Klum and Bad Bunny embraced full costume transformations. Klum dressed as a marble statue, and Bad Bunny adopted an elderly persona with dapper makeup.
Angela Bassett's pink Prabal Gurung gown was inspired by a Harlem Renaissance painting, and influencer Emma Chamberlain wore a Mugler gown resembling a vibrant painting. Actor Zack Gottsagen became the first wheelchair user to attend the Gala, telling Vogue, "For so long, disabled people were not represented anywhere. To go from that to now-somehow finding myself here-I can't say how blessed and honored I feel."
Fashion as performance art
Teyana Taylor brought her fringed dress to life with a dance on the carpet, and Manish Malhotra's ornate cape, a tribute to Mumbai, took 50 artisans 960 hours to create. Karan Johar, the Bollywood director, wore a hand-painted cape featuring characters from Indian mythology, calling the experience "emotional."
Memorable transformations and surprises
Katy Perry's mirrored mask obscured her identity, while Sabrina Carpenter's dress, made of celluloid film strips, referenced the 1954 classic Sabrina. Sam Smith arrived in a towering feathered headpiece, and Zendaya's Prada gown drew inspiration from Gustav Klimt's Mäda Primavesi, part of the Met's collection.
Madonna's nautical-witch look featured a ship-shaped headpiece, and Kylie Jenner's Schiaparelli dress appeared to defy gravity with a nude bodice. Kendall Jenner's Zac Posen design echoed her sister's theme, prompting questions about their coordinated looks.
Sarah Paulson's grey tulle dress and dollar-bill mask sparked conversation, with the actress telling reporters it symbolized the "1 percent."
A night of creativity and inclusion
The 2026 Met Gala showcased fashion as a form of artistic expression, with celebrities embracing the theme's whimsy and grandeur. From historical homages to avant-garde transformations, the event reinforced its reputation as the pinnacle of style and spectacle.
