Met Gala 2026: every red carpet look defining fashion’s biggest night

Celebrities ascend the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in looks that reinterpret the “Fashion is Art” dress code through a contemporary lens.

The Met Gala 2026 is officially underway and, as every first Monday in May, transforms New York into the global epicentre of fashion, art and culture. After months of preparation, fittings and creative decisions, celebrities begin to climb the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in pursuit of that career-defining image. Every appearance is a statement, and each look becomes part of a visual narrative unfolding in real time.

Beyond the spectacle, the gala maintains its essence as the primary fundraising event for the Costume Institute, while also marking the opening of the exhibition ‘Costume Art’, curated by Andrew Bolton. The show explores the relationship between fashion and the body, connecting historical and contemporary garments with other artistic disciplines such as painting and sculpture. In this context, the dressed body becomes the common thread uniting the entire collection.

The curatorial approach is structured around different types of bodies: from those most represented in art, such as the classical and nude body, to those historically overlooked, such as ageing and pregnant bodies. This perspective expands the discourse of fashion, moving it beyond aesthetics into a more conceptual and cultural space.

This framework is directly reflected on the red carpet. The dress code ‘Fashion is Art’ invites celebrities to treat their image as a canvas, resulting in bold, conceptual and often provocative interpretations. The so-called “naked dresses” return to prominence, not only as a trend, but as a coherent reading of the theme.

Among the key figures of the night are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Anna Wintour and Sam Smith, who serve as co-hosts for this edition. They are joined by a committee that includes Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz, alongside names such as Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Consani, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Lisa, Teyana Taylor and Yseult.

A look at the outfits unfolding throughout the night: