The 2026 Met Gala red carpet event embraced the theme of “Costume Art” set by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. With a dress code of “Fashion is Art,” celebrities showcased their interpretations of the relationship between clothing and art over a span of 5,000 years.
Despite the debate surrounding the event’s billionaire sponsors, the red carpet unfolded as a spectacle of fashion. Attendees drew inspiration from classical sculptures, particularly the Hellenistic and Roman representations of the human body, as well as direct references to iconic artworks. The carpet transformed into a living gallery, with stars channeling centuries of visual culture.
Notable looks included Emma Chamberlain channeling both Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch, Sabrina Carpenter wearing a dress partially crafted from film strips of the 1954 movie “Sabrina” starring Audrey Hepburn, and Blackpink’s Lisa donning a surreal ensemble inspired by traditional Thai dance. To view more standout fashion moments from the red carpet handpicked by our fashion expert Truc Nguyen, click the link here.
These individuals and designs truly embodied the artistic essence of the evening. Heidi Klum showcased a full-body illusion inspired by Raffaelle Monti’s “The Veiled Vestal,” while Beyoncé stunned in a crystalline skeleton gown and feathered opera coat. Madonna paid homage to surrealist painter Leonora Carrington with a custom Saint Laurent outfit, and Kendall Jenner channeled the Winged Victory of Samothrace in a dress by Zac Posen.
Hailey Bieber’s attire was a nod to the 1969 collaboration between Yves Saint Laurent and sculptor Claude Lalanne, while Bad Bunny sported a transformative prosthetic look inspired by “The Aging Body.” Chase Infiniti wowed in a beaded dress resembling the Venus de Milo statue, and Luke Evans embodied the spirit of illustrator Tom of Finland in Palomo Spain.
Audrey Nuna shone in a gown inspired by Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionist work, Angela Bassett channeled Laura Wheeler Waring’s “Girl in a Pink Dress,” and Rachel Zegler paid homage to Paul Delaroche’s “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey.” Cardi B’s attire was inspired by the surrealist doll works of Hans Bellmer, while Hunter Schafer embodied Gustav Klimt’s “Mäda Primavesi” in Prada.
Anok Yai donned a Balenciaga ensemble inspired by the Black Madonna, a revered religious figure in Catholic churches across Europe. These avant-garde interpretations of art and fashion made the 2026 Met Gala a night to remember.
