The most talked-about looks at this year’s Met Gala

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1258 EAT on Tuesday 5 May 2026

Often described as the biggest night in fashion, the Met Gala once again drew global attention as celebrities arrived for the 2026 edition, embracing this year’s theme, “costume art.” Organisers encouraged attendees to experiment with a lavish and whimsical dress code, pushing the boundaries of red-carpet fashion.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, and also serves as a showcase for celebrities and fashion houses to deliver high-concept, theatrical looks on one of the world’s most-watched red carpets.

Full coverage: Met Gala 2026 red carpet
The event opened with added spectacle from Broadway star Joshua Henry, who performed a rendition of I Wanna Dance With Somebody alongside a live band and dancers on the museum’s iconic steps. The staircase was transformed into a lush garden scene, with moss-covered brickwork enhancing the theatrical atmosphere.

The guest list at the Met Gala was particularly star-studded this year, with co-chairs including singer Beyoncé, actress Nicole Kidman, tennis champion Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue.

A host of celebrities, including Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Naomi Osaka and Angela Bassett, posed for photographers on the red carpet.

Some well-known figures, including Bad Bunny, Heidi Klum and Katy Perry, were almost unrecognisable as they fully embraced the theme, with several attendees drawing inspiration from famous artists and works of art through their outfits.

Here is a look at some of the standout highlights and most talked-about looks from the evening, with additional reporting by Nada Tawfik on the red carpet.

The creation by French designer Olivier Rousteing embraced the Gala’s theme with a gown featuring an embellished skeleton design, completed with a dramatic oversized feathered cape.

Speaking to the BBC on the red carpet, singer Beyoncé said: “It feels great to be here with my daughter and husband.”
Beyoncé attended the Met Gala alongside her husband, rapper Jay-Z, and their daughter Blue Ivy Carter, who at 14 was among the youngest guests at the event.

The Gala typically enforces an 18-and-over guest policy, making her appearance notably rare.

As has become an almost traditional finale, musical and fashion power couple Rihanna and A$AP Rocky closed out the Met Gala red carpet, arriving after most other guests had already made their entrance.

Rihanna wore a custom Maison Margiela creation by designer Glenn Martens, featuring a gown encrusted with thousands of jewels and beads.
A$AP Rocky, who co-chaired last year’s Gala, arrived in a custom Chanel look, wearing a pink coat detailed with black satin lapels.

The 2026 Met Gala once again closed out fashion’s biggest night with spectacle, star power and high-concept design, as celebrities embraced this year’s theme, “costume art,” in bold and theatrical interpretations.

From dramatic red-carpet entrances and avant-garde couture to artistic references woven into elaborate outfits, the evening delivered a showcase of creativity from some of the world’s most recognisable names in entertainment, sport and fashion.

As is tradition, the final arrivals included musical and fashion power couple Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, who brought the night to a close with standout looks that reinforced the event’s reputation for daring style and visual storytelling.

The annual gala, held to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, continues to serve as both a fundraiser and a global stage for fashion experimentation, where celebrity and design intersect at their most theatrical.

-BBC

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