The 2026 Met Gala red carpet transcended traditional fashion this year, as global icons embraced the "Fashion is Art" dress code with boundary-pushing, custom creations. From Beyoncé to Naomi Osaka, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art became a literal gallery of sculptural and painted masterpieces.
Wearable Sculptures and Grand Reveals
Beyoncé captivated spectators in a sculptural "skeleton" dress by Olivier Rousteing, featuring a feathered train and a diamond crown. Naomi Osaka provided the night’s most dramatic moment, shed an edgy Robert Wun white outer shell to reveal a sleek red gown embellished with human anatomy—a look mirroring pieces currently exhibited in the Met’s "Costume Art" collection.
Art History on the Red Carpet
Many guests swapped trends for classical references:
Venus Williams: Wore a shimmering black gown inspired by Robert Pruitt’s portrait of her housed in the National Portrait Gallery.
Lena Dunham: Collaborated with Valentino’s Alessandro Michele on a red feathered dress representing the "blood spatter" from Artemisia Gentileschi’s painting, Judith Slaying Holofernes.
Lauren Sánchez Bezos: Opted for a Schiaparelli gown influenced by John Singer Sargent’s famous 1884 work, Madame X.
Hand-Painted Personal Narratives
The "Fashion is Art" theme inspired several stars to use their garments as canvases. Anne Hathaway made a powerful statement in a hand-painted Michael Kors Grecian gown featuring a dove of peace. Meanwhile, designer Jessica Kayll arrived in a dress she hand-painted with her own interpretation of Monet’s iconic water lilies.
Karan Johar
Met Gala co-chair Anna Wintour set the tone for the evening in a mint-green Chanel ensemble by Matthieu Blazy, featuring a feathered cape and her signature oversized sunglasses, proving that even after decades, the "Queen of Fashion" remains the event's ultimate curator.
Isha Ambani in Gaurav Gupta
Sarah Pidgeon in Loewe
Rihanna in Maison Margiela
Nicole Kidman in Chanel
Laufey in Tory Burch
Emma Chamberlain in Mugler
Naomi Watts in Dior
