The Met Gala 2026 once again proved why it is the most important fashion event in the world: on Monday night, the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York transformed into a runway of living artworks, with celebrities interpreting the dress code "Fashion is Art" in bold and memorable ways, as captured by the red carpet looks documented by international media.
The theme of this edition, Fashion is Art, originated from the Costume Institute exhibition titled Costume Art, which explores the relationship between fashion and the human body throughout history. The co-hosts of the evening were Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.
The most anticipated moment of the night was Beyoncé's return to the gala after a decade-long absence. The singer arrived among cheers, wearing a design by Olivier Rousteing that mimicked a skeleton with beadwork and crystals on her body, finished off with a gradient blue and white feather cape and a jeweled headpiece. She was accompanied by Jay-Z and her 14-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter, who made her debut at the event in a Balmain look: a corset-style dress with an asymmetrical balloon skirt and a matching jacket.
Rihanna also made a late and surprising entrance in a structured design by Maison Margiela, adorned with embellishments and a bulky decoration that wrapped from her shoulders to her hips. Her partner, A$AP Rocky, accompanied her in a tuxedo and a pink coat by Chanel.
Blake Lively returned to the gala four years later in a romantic archival Versace dress in pastel tones, crafted from layers of chiffon that created a flowing train.
Among the most talked-about and controversial looks, Kim Kardashian stands out, having chosen a mannequin-style orange design with an asymmetrical skirt hand-painted by artists Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem, inspired by a 2013 cover featuring Kate Moss.
Kylie Jenner wore a Schiaparelli dress inspired by the Venus of Milo by Alexander of Antioch.
Madonna put on a stunning performance upon arriving in a Saint Laurent look inspired by the painting The Temptation of Saint Anthony. Fragment II, by the artist Leonora Carrington, complete with a large gray veil that required six assistants to carry.
Sarah Paulson covered her eyes with a giant dollar bill over a gray tulle dress by Matières Fécales, in what many interpreted as a direct critique of the million-dollar sponsorship from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez at the gala.
Bad Bunny was another big surprise: the Puerto Rican artist transformed into an aged version of himself, with prosthetics, a gray wig, a black suit, and a cane, responding to the exhibition's theme about the body and the passage of time.
Heidi Klum was also one of the most applauded and undoubtedly the most viral of the night by transforming into a living statue. The model paid tribute to the sculptures of Italian sculptor Raffaele Monti. Spectacular!
Among the Latinos present was also Maluma (Colombia), wearing a black suit by Tom Ford designed by Haider Ackermann.
Georgina Rodríguez was one of the most applauded of the night with a slip dress design by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, a bridal veil, and a rosary inspired by Our Lady of Fátima valued at seven million euros, according to the best looks on the red carpet.
Jordan Roth
Cardi B
Emma Chamberlain
The Costume Art exhibition will open to the public on May 10 and will remain in the new Condé M. Nast Galleries of the museum until January 10, 2027, solidifying the Met Gala as the largest global showcase where, edition after edition, fashion transcends mere clothing to become art, spectacle, and a topic of worldwide conversation.
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