The best look at Met Gala 2026 came back “Costume Art” on a red carpet shaped by sculpture, performance and bold fashion. It was held in Metropolitan Museum of Art In New York, on May 4, the annual Costume Institute Benefit celebrated the museum’s new exhibition and dress code, “Fashion is art.” This year’s theme pushed the conversation beyond spectacle, with the exhibition looking at how clothes shape, frame and respond to the body. It also marked a shift in representation, as ‘Costume Art’ extended the Costume Institute’s study of the clothed body through disability, aging, pregnancy, body shape and bodily difference, while the carpet brought this debate into public view. With Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williamsand Anna Wintour serving as co-chairs, the evening brought together major names from music, film, fashion, sports and art. DSCENE chose the looks that defined this year’s carpet, from heavy crystal structures and sculptural gowns to sharp tailoring, archival references and custom pieces made for the night.
Beyoncé led the strongest tier to a Olivier Rousteing they appear embellished to resemble the skeletal system. Rihanna followed Maison Margiela with over 115,000 crystal beads, antique jewelry and objets d’art. BLACK PINK made a strong appearance on the carpet, with JENNY choosing a blue one Chanel dress from Matthew Blazey, JISOO making her Met Gala debut in a strapless, backless gown Dior Gazar column dress embroidered with garden scene and floral bouquets and ROSE wearing Saint Laurent in silk satin dress with bird, sequin and pearl details and LISA arriving at the custom Robert Woon in a transparent dress and veil embroidered with ivory crystal. Ariana Rose was wearing Steph Mazuera diamonds, such as the Corpo Pendant, Alpi Earrings, Billie Tennis Bracelet, Mosaic Tennis Bracelet and Joan rings in 18k white gold. Her presence was directly associated with Costume Art, as she served as one of the real-life models for the exhibit’s custom mannequins.
Sabrina Carpenter wore Dior, pairing a Sabrina-inspired stripe appliquéd tulle slit dress with fringed embroidered cuffs, black stretch tulle gloves, a headpiece and Christian Louboutin heels. Blue Ivy Carter wore to order Balenciagapairing a white silk super taffeta Balloon Bustier dress with a visual white leather cropped jacket. Cardi B was wearing Marc Jacobswhich combines a ruffled lace dress, colored jumpsuit and 9½ inch fetish boots. A$AP Rocky arrived at custom Chanel, wearing a pink woolen robe with black satin frills.
Hunter Shafer was wearing Prada in a look that referenced Gustav Klimt’s 1912 painting Mäda Primavesi. Anne Hathaway chose Michael Korswearing a dress with hand-painted designs by artist Peter McGough. Aphrodite Williamsone of the evening’s co-chairs, wore one Swarovski Crystal net dress with Wimbledon plate inspired necklace. Nicole Kidman she wore Chanel, while Anna Wintour she arrived in a winged Chanel ensemble. Margot Robbie also chose Chanel, Heidi Klum wore to order Mike Marinoand Amanda Seyfried she wore a pale pink Prada ball gown. Serena Williams wore Marc Jacobs, opting for a custom silver lamé drape gown with gold leaf accents, paired with gold Italian leather sandals wrapped in handmade leather appliqués. Sarah Paulson wore a Feces Fall/Winter 2026 look with Opera leather gloves, Money Leather mask and Christian Louboutin pumps.
Kendall Jenner wore to order GapStudio with Zac PosenExecutive Vice President and Creative Director of Gap Inc., transforming the white Gap T-shirt into a sculptural look inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Kylie Jenner wore to order Schiaparelli Haute Couture, choosing a nude ensemble that turned into a white dress at the hem. Kim Kardashian wear an artist look Allen Jonesduo of designers Whittaker Mallemand creative director Nadia Lee Cohenwith high neck sculpted bronze bust and hand painted leather skirt.
Emma Chamberlain wore to order Muggle with Miguel Castro Freitasin nude second-skin organza and georgette with hand-painted spiral ruffles in a deconstructed second look. Tate McRae wore to order Ludovic de Saint Serninin a dress inspired by the gilded statues at La Réale, the ceremonial vessel of Louis XIV. Damson Idris wore Prada, opting for a black leather coat with red poplin tux detailing, an antique red leather top, black leather pants and black leather lace-ups.
Saint Laurent with Anthony Vaccarello claimed a large space. Hailey Bieber wore an extra-long silk chiffon lavallière, sculptural bodice in 24k gold and silk chiffon skirt. Charli XCX she chose an iris silk tulle and resin gown, with a hair trim Matt Bence using Initio Parfums Privés Atomic Rose Hair Perfume. Doja Cat wore a silicone draped chiffon dress with thigh slit, paired with Kika platform mules, Madonna she wore an organza hooded cape over a silk satin and lace slip dress. Zoe Kravitz chose a guipure lace bask-waist gown with Phantom slingback pumps, while Anya Rubik she wore an embroidered long-sleeved silk georgette dress with rhinestones. Charlotte Gainsbourg she wore a soft leather dress with a long train, Lolly Bahia chose grain de poudre tuxedo tailoring, and Raw Alejandro wore a silicone lavallière shirt with tuxedo pants. Rami Malek arrived in a double coat with an oversized animal-free fur scarf, while Connor Story she wore a very long polka dot lavallière muslin top with high rise trousers. Kate Moss choose a long-sleeved lace dress with a lace bodice, Amelia Grey she wore a one-shoulder lace dress with rhinestones, Come to the Hammam chose a ruffled nylon dress, and Anthony Vaccarello he wore a grain of tuxedo dust.
Naomi Osaka wore bespoke Robert Wun, debuting “The Red Within” in an ivory sculptural coat that opened to reveal a deep red crystal gown with 659,000 stitches and over 3,280 hours of craftsmanship. Jordan Roth she wore “The Symbiosis Sculpture,” a sand marble-toned velvet dress with velvet studs and earrings. Jaafar Jackson was wearing Ralph Laurenteaming a black velvet suit with gold details, a black bow tie, red socks and black ballet flats. Shadow was wearing Valentinepairing a lamé lace top and tailored pants with a custom hand-embroidered degradé cape that took over 500 hours to make.
Balenciaga continued Anok Yai in black silk taffeta, Hudson Williams with blue Torero trompe-l’oeil wool jacket with collar and trousers, Stephen Curry in black tailoring, and Ayesha Curry in black silk chiffon with leather jacket. Burberry brought Cher back after more than a decade in black silk tulle, leather corset belt and crystal cropped jacket. Jesse Joe Stark she wore fringed silk georgette, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley referred to Madame X in the burnt uber, and Romeo Beckham he wore a black tuxedo made of grain.
Stevie Nicks she made her Met Gala debut in midnight blue Zara with John Galliano with silk taffeta crinoline silhouette, rose appliqué, velvet jacket and Stephen Jones hat. Sarah Pidgeon she wore chartreuse matte satin Loewewhile Isla Johnston she wore a sheer beaded Loewe slip dress. Loewe Creative Directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez he attended in tailored Loewe suits with classic shirts, ties and Bobine shoes. Hoyeon he wore custom-made black leather Louis Vuitton with high jewelry and La Beauté Louis Vuitton makeup. Silence she wore Valentino with a beaded bodice and teal skirt, while Yusuf Williams finished her hair with Initio Musk Therapy Hair Perfume.
Eileen Gu she wore a short bubble dress by Iris van Herpen. Cara Delevingne she wore Ralph Lauren, opting for a black plunging neckline dress with black net cap sleeves. Alex Konsani wore a Gucci dress and cape beside worthyinspired by Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera. Georgina Rodriguez wore Ludovic de Saint Sernin with Chopard jewels, opting for a teal corset and matching sheer veil with hand-embroidered lace flowers. Janelle Monáe wore to order Syrian Christian sewing.
Cai Xukunalso known as Whenwas wearing Tom Brown in a sharp combination of jacket and trousers. Keel wore Prada, choosing a white satin dress with a jet beaded neckline and silver crystals, paired with a black satin evening cape, silver leather sandals, Prada Fine Jewelry and an embroidered white satin clutch. Sam Smith and Christian Cowan they attended alongside matching black Christian Cowan tailored looks inspired by the 1920s illustrator and designer Erté.
