The Most Daring Looks At The 2026 Met Gala
The 2026 Met Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York, was a truly show-stopping event that celebrated the art and fashion worlds - often blurring the two together.
The theme of the 2026 Gala was "Fashion is Art", reflecting the Met's current exhibit that contrasts the relationship between bodies and clothing. It's an annual rite of spring in New York - and perhaps the biggest fashion gala in the world.
Anna Wintour Looked Light As A Feather
It would hardly be a Met Gala without fashion icon Anna Wintour, and she didn't disappoint with this feathery, pale green Chanel gown.
While Wintour is a mainstay at the Met Gala, the 2026 event was the first Gala she'd attended since stepping down from her longtime role as editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine.
Beyoncé and the Carters Dazzle
It had been ten years since we'd seen Beyoncé at the Met Gala, and the star made up for lost time with an incredible look from French designer Olivier Rousteing.
The gown featured an embellished skeleton design to fit the night's theme. Beyoncé walked the red carpet alongside her husband, rapper Jay-Z and her daughter Blue Ivy.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Constrasting Looks
Diva Rihanna opted for a sculptural gown from Maison Margiela, reportedly inspired by medieval architecture.
Rihanna's beau A$AP Rocky, on the other hand, went for a soft pink Chanel suit that harkened back to the Mathieu Blazy era.
Sabrina Carpenter Went Midcentury Elegant
In line with her status as a style icon, Sabrina Carpenter wore a gorgeous black halter dress from Dior designer Jonathan Anderson.
The outfit was accessorized by film strips - actual film strips - from the 1954 Audrey Hepburn film Sabrina.
Emma Chamberlain Was A Human Painting
The fashion on display at the Met Gala is generally meticulously handcrafted, and Emma Chamberlain's flowing gown took things one step further by being handpainted.
The gown, by designer Miguel Castro Freitas, was inspired by looks from the late-'90s Mugler archive.
Connor Storrie Went For Polka Dots
Few people had heard of actor Connor Storrie a year ago, but thanks to the breakout success of his TV show Heated Rivalry, Storrie is a star on the rise.
For the 2026 Gala, Storrie opted for a daring polka dot halter top, paired with tailored trousers from Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. earrings.
Nicole Kidman Sparkled In Chanel
Nicole Kidman co-chaired the 2026 Gala and wore a long-sleeved beaded column gown by Chanel.
The most striking aspect of Kidman's outfit was its red-on-red-on-red motif, with the theme carrying over to her accessories.
Gwendoline Christie Found Inspiration Close To Home
Actress Gwendoline Christie is striking wherever she goes, and her stunning red gown was inspired by artists John Singer Sargent, Madame Yevonde, and Ira Cohen.
The designer of the dress, however, was fashion designer Giles Deacon - with whom Christie has been in a relationship with since 2014.
Serena Williams Sparkled With Asymmetry
Ever since wrapping up her legendary tennis career, Serena Williams has emerged as a fashion trendsetter.
Her look at the 2026 Gala was another winner, with a draped, asymmetrical silver mini dress with flowing lines and gold sandals, all designed by Marc Jacobs.
It Was A Big Night For Venus Williams, Too
Serena's sister Venus Williams was a co-chair of the event, a responsibility she took on with enthusiasm.
To mark the occasion, she wore a classic black gown that literally sparkled in the light, paired with a striking neckpiece.
Hailey Bieber Was As Good As Gold
The deep peacock blue of Hailey Bieber's flowing skirt contrasted sharply with a molded bodice from Saint Laurent.
That bodice doesn't just look like gold, either - it is gold, crafted from genuine 24-karat stuff.
Ashley Graham's Understated Look
The Met Gala is a chance for designers to get a little wild, but the elegant nude-colored mesh gown worn by Ashley Graham was a model of restraint.
The gown was designed by Dimitra Petsa and hugged Graham's body, making for a striking yet understated look.
Joshua Henry Wants To Dance With Somebody
Broadway star Joshua Henry kicked off the event in a bright red suit, accompanied by backup dancers, as he performed Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."
The performance, near the event's main carpet, helped set the scene for the rest of the evening.
Jon Batiste Puffed It Up
Jon Batiste's look was designed by ERL and was essentially a playful, all-white take on a classic red carpet suit.
The biggest departure from a conventional suit, of course, was the puffy motif, which brought to mind ski jackets and winter wear.
Lisa's Surreal White Veil
K-pop star Lisa, who also starred in The White Lotus, certainly made an impression with her red carpet look, which featured a veil that seemingly floated in the air.
Her outfit was designed by Robert Wun and was inspired by traditional Thai dances.
Colman Domingo Brought Some Color
Colman Domingo looked dapper as ever in his red carpet fit, which set colorful squares against a black background with a high collar.
The look was completed by stark black pants with crimson vertical stripes.
Heidi Klum Was Statuesque
It looks almost like CGI, but this was the actual look sported by model Heidi Klum, who's been known to opt for some extreme costumes in recent years.
If she looks like a statue to you, that's exactly the point, as Klum's outfit was inspired by the marble statues found within the museum.
Chase Infiniti's Infinite Sequins
Sequins - more than 1.5 million of them, reportedly - made Chase Infiniti's colorful dress shimmer under the red carpet lights.
The outfit was inspired by the Venus de Milo statue, and in addition to its million-plus sequins, also featured tired silk fringes.
Katy Perry Paired Vintage With Avant-Garde
Pop star Katy Perry wore a cream strapless gown made with deadstock materials by designer Miodrag Gubernic.
The look was paired with a spaceman-style facemask, which she lifted to reveal her face, leaving its sculptural silver frame on her head.
Naomi Osaka Took Inspiration From The Met
Tennis prodigy Naomi Osaka wore a striking white gown from designer Robert Wun, accentuated with dramatic red highlights.
Her look is inspired by a current display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Art exhibition.
Bad Bunny Looked Aged
We last saw Bad Bunny on the big stage at the Super Bowl halftime show, and the singer debuted an incredibly bold costume at the Met Gala.
Bad Bunny - who's only in his 30s - went for a fairly straightforward black ensemble along with makeup that made him look much older.
Cara Delevingne's Little Black Dress
There's something to be said for the classics, and Cara Delevingne went for a little black dress that was understated by Met Gala standards.
The Ralph Lauren dress was inspired by a similar Lauren dress worn by Rooney Mara on a 2011 Vogue cover.
Janelle Monáe Was Plugged In
Singer Janelle Monáe wore a positively surreal getup for the Gala, featuring a Christian Siriano gown that contrasted nature with technology.
The gown's backdrop of live moss, succulents, and animatronic butterflies, was accentuated with a tangle of electrical wires and cables.
Charli XCX Surprises With Black
Singer Charli XCX is well-known for her love of green, but as this signature hue may have blended into the background, Charli instead opted for a black dress.
The gown from Saint Laurent was restrained apart from a floral embellishment on the front.
Sarah Pidgeon's Canary Yellow Getup
Actress Sarah Pidgeon rocked a stunning spring-hued gown from designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Loewe.
The look was paired with minimal jewelry, emphasizing the bold lines of the gown.
Tate McRae's Golden Look
Gold was a popular color at the Gala, and Tate McRae's off-the-shoulder gown from Ludovic de Saint Sernin was no exception.
What made McRae's look stand out, though, wasn't just the feathered embellishments, but the old-gold hue of the dress itself.
Zoë Kravitz Had Pockets
Rumors of a possible engagement between Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles have been swirling lately - but Kravitz didn't tip her hand at the Met Gala.
In fact, her hands were frequently in the pockets of her black lace Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello gown.
Sam Smith's Headpiece Turned Heads
Singer Sam Smith always turns head with his fashion sense, so anticipation was high ahead of the Met Gala.
Smith didn't disappoint, with a shimmering black robe paired with a feathered headpiece.
Stevie Nicks Had A Voluminous Gown
Music icon Stevie Nicks showed off her impeccable, timeless sense of fashion with a bold look at the Met Gala.
Nicks wore a large black gown along with a matching top hat as she walked the steps at the Met.
Cher Wore Leather And Lace
Nicks' contemporary Cher opted for a black dress - but rather than the classical little black dress, Cher's daring outfit was full of embellishments.
Her look was accentuated with layers of lace, a flowing gown, and leather jacket.