Celebrities gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night for the 2026 Met Gal, marking fashion's biggest annual event held on the first Monday in May. Across Manhattan, stars made last-minute adjustments to their looks before stepping onto the iconic red carpet, setting the stage for a night of spectacle, creativity and high fashion. This year’s gala, themed “Costume Art” with a “Fashion is Art” dress code, delivered a mix of memorable triumphs and underwhelming interpretations, with some outfits destined for Met Gala history while others “just left us wanting more.”
Among the night’s biggest highlights was Beyoncé, who returned after nearly a decade away, making a dramatic entrance in a sheer, diamond-covered skeleton-inspired gown alongside her daughter, Blue Ivy, who made her debut.
The singer’s appearance stood out on what many described as a relatively lackluster red carpet, reaffirming her reputation as one of the gala’s most anticipated and influential figures.
Blake Lively also drew attention with her return to the event for the first time since 2022, just hours after resolving her legal dispute with Justin Baldoni. She wore an archival Atelier Versace gown inspired by Rococo art and paired it with a custom bag featuring artwork by her children.
Reality star Kim Kardashian maintained her signature aesthetic in a metallic-orange, form-fitting bodysuit, while her mother, Kris Jenner, arrived later in a coordinated robe with sculptural details.
Music star Bad Bunny took a theatrical approach, appearing as an aged version of himself, saying the transformation took “53 years,” while Janelle Monáe used her outfit to explore environmental themes, incorporating recycled materials and natural elements.
Model Kendall Jenner drew inspiration from classical art with a gown referencing the “Winged Victory of Samothrace,” while Hailey Bieber shimmered in a gold-bodiced Saint Laurent design.
Other standout appearances included Sabrina Carpenter in a film-strip-inspired gown referencing the 1954 movie “Sabrina,” and Olympic champion Eileen Gu, whose bubble-covered dress featured 15,000 glass spheres and took over 2,500 hours to create.
Late as ever, Rihanna closed out the red carpet in a shimmering silver ensemble, reinforcing her tradition of making the final entrance of the night.
Elsewhere, Naomi Osaka delivered one of the most elaborate looks with a two-stage outfit reveal, while Katy Perry opted for a subdued white gown paired with a striking face mask reminiscent of past Met Gala styles.
The event also saw notable absences, including Meryl Streep, whose representative reiterated that the gala “has never quite been her scene,” despite her long-standing invitations.
Beyond fashion, the 2026 Met Gala set a new fundraising record, generating $42 million for the Costume Institute, surpassing the previous year’s total and underscoring the event’s continued cultural and financial significance.