Key Takeaways
- The Met Gala takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art alongside the “Costume Art” exhibition and its “Fashion Is Art” dress code.
- Co-chairs including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour help lead the evening’s fundraising benefit.
- Celebrity arrivals, designer collaborations, and evolving interpretations of the theme wowed fans throughout the night.
The first Monday in May is back, and the 2026 Met Gala is officially underway at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where this year’s Costume Institute benefit arrives alongside “Costume Art,” a new spring exhibition that places fashion in direct conversation with art through the idea of the dressed body. The show, which opens May 10, features nearly 400 objects and pairs garments with artworks across time. The Met Gala’s dress code, “Fashion Is Art,” invited guests to treat the carpet like a living canvas.
Adding more depth to the evening, the exhibition includes body types and experiences that have often been overlooked. The Met described “Costume Art” as exploring the clothed body through age, size, gender, and disability.
The carpet brought plenty of heat, with Ciara and Russell Wilson stepping out in coordinated style, Venus Williams arriving as a co-chair in custom Swarovski, and Naomi Osaka continuing her Robert Wun run. Doechii made one of the night’s boldest statements in Marc Jacobs, while Beyoncé, JAY-Z, and Blue Ivy instantly gave the evening one of its biggest family fashion flexes. Check out plenty of those big moments below.
1. Beyoncé
Beyoncé returned to the Met Gala in an Olivier Rousteing-designed crystal-covered skeletal gown, finished with a dramatic ombré feather cape, a crown-like jeweled headpiece, and Chopard jewelry. It marked her first Met Gala appearance in a decade.
2. JAY-Z, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy
JAY-Z, Bey, and Blue Ivy delivered one of the night’s biggest family fashion moments, with JAY in a sharp black suit and Blue Ivy bringing contrast in an ivory ensemble with sunglasses and statement heels.
3. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
Rihanna arrived in Maison Margiela’s fall 2025 couture, trading the collection’s covered face for a golden wreath, while A$AP Rocky kept things cool in Chanel with a pink robe and a floral brooch.
4. Angel Reese
WNBA star Angel Reese returns to the Met Gala for her second appearance. Her flowing dress comes courtesy of Altuzarra.
5. Doechii
Doechii wore Marc Jacobs, topped with an “incredible turban” and, notably, no shoes on the carpet.
6. A’ja Wilson
A’ja Wilson hit the Met Gala in a shimmering off-the-shoulder metallic gown with sweeping cape-like panels, layered chokers, and a sculpted finger-wave hairstyle.
7. Coco Jones
Coco Jones stunned in a smoky brown strapless gown with sheer ruching, a dramatic tulle mermaid flare, and a sweeping train.
8. Cardi B
Cardi B pulled up in custom Marc Jacobs, wearing a body-focused black lace look inspired by German artist Hans Bellmer.
9. Venus Williams
As a 2026 Met Gala co-chair, Venus arrived in a sparkling Swarovski crystal gown and matching necklace inspired by a portrait of her by artist Robert Pruitt.
10. Serena Williams
Serena followed her sister with a bold silver dress courtesy of Marc Jacobs, who she says was inspired by statues to create the look.
11. Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor brought metallic drama to the Met Gala in Tom Ford.
12. Stephen and Ayesha Curry
Steph and Ayesha Curry leaned all the way into black, with Ayesha in a strapless gown layered with leather opera gloves and a dramatic off-the-shoulder leather wrap. Steph kept it sharp in a hooded tailored look.
13. Anderson .Paak
Anderson .Paak stepped onto the Met Gala carpet in custom sparkly Tory Burch Reva flats, tapping into one of fashion’s more playful menswear trends.
14. Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe blended into the Met Gala carpet in a mossy Christian Siriano couture gown that fused nature and technology, with cords shaping the look.
15. Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo — who co-chaired last year’s Met Gala — returned in a colorful Valentino look, complete with Boucheron jewelry.
16. Ciara and Russell Wilson
Ciara leaned into a Nefertiti-inspired look, while Russell Wilson matched the moment with golden epaulettes.
17. Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny pulled up as an aged version of himself in a custom all-black tuxedo designed with Zara, complete with an oversized pussy-bow detail that nodded to Charles James.
18. La La Anthony
La La Anthony returned to her post as a Vogue livestream host for the fifth straight year, stepping onto the carpet in a Wiederhoeft gown finished with teardrop crystal details.
19. Damson Idris
Damson Idris hit the Met Gala carpet in red and black Prada, adding to a night where leather emerged as a go-to for the men.
20. Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka rocked a white feathered Robert Wun dress, continuing a designer partnership she also tapped for her Australian Open walk-on looks earlier this year. She also wore a matching headpiece by London milliner Awon Golding.
21. Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett arrived in a pink beaded Prabal Gurung gown with a floral-strapped waist and matching blush.
22. Aariana Rose Philip
Aariana Rose Philip made history at the 2026 Met Gala as the first wheelchair user to attend the event, arriving in a look created with Collina Strada’s Hillary Taymour.
23. SZA
SZA hit the Met Gala in a Bode gown made from 1,000 yards of fabric sourced on eBay, with a floral headpiece that tied into the look’s Wiener Werkstätte-inspired design.
24. Skepta
Skepta repping his home crew heavy on the red carpet, rocking a wool Thom Browne suit with tattoo-inspired references to the iconic Boy Better Know collective.
25. Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
Gabrielle Union wore a shimmering bronze cutout Michael Kors gown, while Dwyane Wade threw on a sharp, sleeveless, black tailored look.
26. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
The Rock kept it sharp in a Thom Browne suit, finished with a diamond brooch.
27. Chase Infiniti
Chase Infiniti turned heads in McQueen, finishing the look with Tiffany earrings.
28. Babyface
The always dapper Babyface hit the red carpet with a creative-yet-reserved mix, complete with a showstopping jacket over a black ensemble.
29. Jaafar Jackson
Jaafar Jackson stayed in “the world of Michael” for the Met Gala, wearing Polo Ralph Lauren in a timeless look he said felt right the moment he put it on.