If there’s one night celebrities are officially allowed to be extra, it’s the Met Gala.
The theme for the 2026 Met Gala and concurrent spring 2026 museum exhibition was “Costume Art.” And the best-dressed stars took this year’s “Fashion is Art” dress code very seriously.
The guests didn’t just dress up. They turned themselves into walking masterpieces, pulling inspiration from paintings, history lessons, and even their own personal lives.
One carried a mango on the Met steps, while another admitted their Met Gala prep included petting a donkey..
Meanwhile, Nicole Kidman posed with her daughter on the carpet and said, “She had to go to school tomorrow morning.”
Here’s a roundup of the best looks from the 2026 Met Gala.
Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.
#2 Blake Lively
Blake Lively showed up to fashion’s biggest night wearing an archival Atelier Versace gown from spring 2006.
But what was extra special for her was carrying her custom Judith Leiber bag, which featured art made by the four children she shares with husband Ryan Reynolds: James, 11, Inez, 9, Betty, 6 and Olin, 3.
“We were trying to find a piece of famous, iconic art to put on and make it look like it was in a frame. And then I said, ‘Would you, actually, if you're gonna make it custom, would you do my kids?’” she said during the Vogue live-stream.
“My kids each painted a watercolor painting. Each of my four kids did this, so I have them with me, because I'm shy too, so I just like to have the kids with me,” she continued. “Isn't that special?”
The Gossip Girl alum joked about how she could have probably fit her kids under her dress.
“I probably could have fit them under my dress, to be honest. I should have snuck them under there,” she added.
But what was extra special for her was carrying her custom Judith Leiber bag, which featured art made by the four children she shares with husband Ryan Reynolds: James, 11, Inez, 9, Betty, 6 and Olin, 3.
“We were trying to find a piece of famous, iconic art to put on and make it look like it was in a frame. And then I said, ‘Would you, actually, if you're gonna make it custom, would you do my kids?’” she said during the Vogue live-stream.
“My kids each painted a watercolor painting. Each of my four kids did this, so I have them with me, because I'm shy too, so I just like to have the kids with me,” she continued. “Isn't that special?”
The Gossip Girl alum joked about how she could have probably fit her kids under her dress.
“I probably could have fit them under my dress, to be honest. I should have snuck them under there,” she added.
4points
#4 Anne Hathaway
Met Gala regular Anne Hathaway, who has attended the event nine times now, wore a gown with a hidden meaning for her Monday appearance.
The Michael Kors gown was inspired by the 1819 John Keats poem, “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” and was hand-painted by artist Peter McGough.
“This dress, to me, is about the goddess of a Grecian urn, and what I love about the dress is that it turns the person into an object of art,” McGough told Vogue. “It’s moving art—fashion and art, they go together for me: Fashion is wearable art.”
The Michael Kors gown was inspired by the 1819 John Keats poem, “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” and was hand-painted by artist Peter McGough.
“This dress, to me, is about the goddess of a Grecian urn, and what I love about the dress is that it turns the person into an object of art,” McGough told Vogue. “It’s moving art—fashion and art, they go together for me: Fashion is wearable art.”
3points
#5 Alysa Liu
Months after winning a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Alysa Liu collected another win at the Met Gala with her strapless burgundy custom Louis Vuitton gown.
“I love the theme, especially as an athlete, because for me it’s all about the relationship with clothing and our bodies as an artistic medium,” the 20-year-old Olympic champion told Vogue. “I’m a figure skater — we are the winter artistic sport.”
She said her favorite details about the look included the “voluminous” skirt and the “unique” shape.
“I like how it is shorter in front and then longer in the back. I also love the color, since I like wearing dark reds a lot,” she added. “It’s so Chinese—it’s a lucky color!”
“I love the theme, especially as an athlete, because for me it’s all about the relationship with clothing and our bodies as an artistic medium,” the 20-year-old Olympic champion told Vogue. “I’m a figure skater — we are the winter artistic sport.”
She said her favorite details about the look included the “voluminous” skirt and the “unique” shape.
“I like how it is shorter in front and then longer in the back. I also love the color, since I like wearing dark reds a lot,” she added. “It’s so Chinese—it’s a lucky color!”
3points
#6 Jisoo
For her very first Met Gala, Jisoo picked a glimmering pink Dior gown, perfectly complemented by Cartier jewelry.
The K-pop superstar and Blackpink member gracefully posed in the strapless, backless column dress that featured trimmed floral bouquets.
The K-pop superstar and Blackpink member gracefully posed in the strapless, backless column dress that featured trimmed floral bouquets.
3points
#8 Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain decided to be a painting for the 2026 Met Gala.
With the help of two people to carry her dress, the model and influencer showed up as a literal canvas, wearing a custom Mugler gown by Miguel Castro Freitas.
The dress, hand-painted by Chicago-born artist Anna Deller-Yee, took 40 hours to paint and another four full days to dry.
“I’m somebody who really believes that fashion is art,” she told Vogue a couple of days before the event.
“My dad is an oil painter and a watercolor painter, and I grew up in a very creative household with art all over my house,” the influencer said as she explained how her family and her love for art inspired her outfit.
With the help of two people to carry her dress, the model and influencer showed up as a literal canvas, wearing a custom Mugler gown by Miguel Castro Freitas.
The dress, hand-painted by Chicago-born artist Anna Deller-Yee, took 40 hours to paint and another four full days to dry.
“I’m somebody who really believes that fashion is art,” she told Vogue a couple of days before the event.
“My dad is an oil painter and a watercolor painter, and I grew up in a very creative household with art all over my house,” the influencer said as she explained how her family and her love for art inspired her outfit.
2points
#9 Venus Williams
Venus Williams showed up in full icon mode and, for the first time, was seen posing on the Met Gala red carpet with her husband Andrea Preti.
The tennis star has been a regular guest at the annual event and served as a co-chair this year.
As for the inspiration behind her outfit, she simply had to look in the mirror.
She wore a Swarovski crystal mesh gown inspired by Robert Pruitt’s Venus Williams, Double Portrait (2022), a portrait of herself commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery.
“It reflects not just my journey but the legacy of those who came before me—especially pioneers like Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, who paved the way,” she told Vogue. “It felt like a personal way to connect with ‘Costume Art’—using fashion to tell a story about legacy and progress and honoring those who made it possible.”
The tennis star has been a regular guest at the annual event and served as a co-chair this year.
As for the inspiration behind her outfit, she simply had to look in the mirror.
She wore a Swarovski crystal mesh gown inspired by Robert Pruitt’s Venus Williams, Double Portrait (2022), a portrait of herself commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery.
“It reflects not just my journey but the legacy of those who came before me—especially pioneers like Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, who paved the way,” she told Vogue. “It felt like a personal way to connect with ‘Costume Art’—using fashion to tell a story about legacy and progress and honoring those who made it possible.”
2points
#10 SZA
SZA said she “wanted to express joy” and be fearless with her Met Gala look.
The Saturn singer hit the red carpet in a bright yellow dress and a jeweled floral headpiece designed by Bode.
“This entire look is made with reworked pieces purchased on eBay,” the 36-year-old singer said during a red carpet interview. “This is like my ethereal body. This is how I see myself.”
Emily Adams Bode Aujla of Bode confirmed that all the pieces and fabric that went into the outfit were sourced from eBay.
“We worked with a vintage dealer who sourced over a hundred yards of yellow fabrics for us in various materials—tulle, taffeta, silk faille, and beadwork on lace,” the designer told Vogue.
For SZA, the look represented “the divine feminine.”
“I just love a character and I love playing and I love attention,” she said on the red carpet. “I just love expressing our culture. And I just love celebrating all cultures.”
The Saturn singer hit the red carpet in a bright yellow dress and a jeweled floral headpiece designed by Bode.
“This entire look is made with reworked pieces purchased on eBay,” the 36-year-old singer said during a red carpet interview. “This is like my ethereal body. This is how I see myself.”
Emily Adams Bode Aujla of Bode confirmed that all the pieces and fabric that went into the outfit were sourced from eBay.
“We worked with a vintage dealer who sourced over a hundred yards of yellow fabrics for us in various materials—tulle, taffeta, silk faille, and beadwork on lace,” the designer told Vogue.
For SZA, the look represented “the divine feminine.”
“I just love a character and I love playing and I love attention,” she said on the red carpet. “I just love expressing our culture. And I just love celebrating all cultures.”
2points
#11 Christine Beauchamp
Even fabric can be used like clay. Exhibit A: Christine Beauchamp’s structural red gown.
The businesswoman wore a vibrant, tiered crimson lace ensemble with a sculptural ruff that literally framed her face.
The businesswoman wore a vibrant, tiered crimson lace ensemble with a sculptural ruff that literally framed her face.
2points
#12 Isha M. Ambani
Indian billionaire heir, 34, Isha M. Ambani shimmered on the carpet in a golden sari and a sculptural cape that framed her head.
More than 1,200 hours and the craftsmanship of 25 artisans went into creating her custom Gaurav Gupta sari.
“It's a hand-woven sari, and the blouse is full of my mother's jewelry,” Isha said during Vogue’s livestream.
“And then this cape is by Gaurav Gupta,” she went on to say, “and it's supposed to be like a sculptural element to the sari.”
“It's like 20 years old,” she continued. “I think when we thought about it, and, you know, fashion is art, we were like, ‘Oh, like … for me as an Indian, it was like the ultimate, like, symbol of art form.’”
Ambani was also holding a mango in her hand and for people wondering, she clarified that it was actually a sculpture by Indian artist Subodh Gupta.
More than 1,200 hours and the craftsmanship of 25 artisans went into creating her custom Gaurav Gupta sari.
“It's a hand-woven sari, and the blouse is full of my mother's jewelry,” Isha said during Vogue’s livestream.
“And then this cape is by Gaurav Gupta,” she went on to say, “and it's supposed to be like a sculptural element to the sari.”
“It's like 20 years old,” she continued. “I think when we thought about it, and, you know, fashion is art, we were like, ‘Oh, like … for me as an Indian, it was like the ultimate, like, symbol of art form.’”
Ambani was also holding a mango in her hand and for people wondering, she clarified that it was actually a sculpture by Indian artist Subodh Gupta.
2points
#13 Cristina Baxter
Cristina Baxter didn’t go for shock value. And it seems to have worked in her favor.
The music-industry executive and talent agent’s strapless, softly shimmering gown proved that understated can still be unforgettable.
The music-industry executive and talent agent’s strapless, softly shimmering gown proved that understated can still be unforgettable.
Report
2points
#14 Amanda Seyfried
Petting her donkey was part of the Met Gala prep for Amanda Seyfried.
The Housemaid actress, 40, wore a bubblegum pink Prada ballgown, with a hugging bodice and a billowing skirt, trailing behind her.
When she spoke about getting ready for fashion’s biggest night, Seyfried said her prep included taking medicine for the acne on her chin and neck, and also spending time with the animals on her Catskills, New York, farm.
Out of all her donkeys, chickens, cats, goats, and ducks, and horses, she mentioned spending time with her donkey Gus ahead of the event.
“I was rubbing his ears this morning to get ready,” she said during the Vogue livestream.
“It's nice to come to the giant Met Ball ... having had just been walking to the clovers and petting the goats and horses,” she added. “But I did start out my day there. It's so balanced.”
The Housemaid actress, 40, wore a bubblegum pink Prada ballgown, with a hugging bodice and a billowing skirt, trailing behind her.
When she spoke about getting ready for fashion’s biggest night, Seyfried said her prep included taking medicine for the acne on her chin and neck, and also spending time with the animals on her Catskills, New York, farm.
Out of all her donkeys, chickens, cats, goats, and ducks, and horses, she mentioned spending time with her donkey Gus ahead of the event.
“I was rubbing his ears this morning to get ready,” she said during the Vogue livestream.
“It's nice to come to the giant Met Ball ... having had just been walking to the clovers and petting the goats and horses,” she added. “But I did start out my day there. It's so balanced.”
1point
#15 Coco Jones
“A Work of Art,” Coco Jones wrote on Instagram while sharing pictures of her Met Gala look.
The actress and singer wore a strapless body-hugging gown that flowed out into a massive skirt, designed by Prabal Gurung.
The actress and singer wore a strapless body-hugging gown that flowed out into a massive skirt, designed by Prabal Gurung.
Report
1point
#16 Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie posed for the cameras in a strapless molten gold lamé Chanel gown.
Taking the Chanel atelier 761 hours to complete, the dress featured 1,100 pieces of embroidery and was accessorized with gold earrings and a matching ring.
Taking the Chanel atelier 761 hours to complete, the dress featured 1,100 pieces of embroidery and was accessorized with gold earrings and a matching ring.
1point
#17 Gayle King
It was straight out of the office and straight onto the Met steps for Gayle King.
The CBS Mornings co-host, 71, said she got ready at the Oprah Daily offices in a video shared on social media.
King dressed up in a gold Christian Siriano gown with matching accessories and carried a fan-shaped purse wrapped in golden silk.
“You know, fashion is art. I got the assignment,” King quipped in the social media video as her team cheered her on for the big appearance.
The CBS Mornings co-host, 71, said she got ready at the Oprah Daily offices in a video shared on social media.
King dressed up in a gold Christian Siriano gown with matching accessories and carried a fan-shaped purse wrapped in golden silk.
“You know, fashion is art. I got the assignment,” King quipped in the social media video as her team cheered her on for the big appearance.
1point
#18 Sarina Sanandaji
Sarina Sanandaji made a polished statement in a crystal-covered gown.
The sheer paneling added just enough drama to keep the look memorable for the New York-based communications and brand strategy executive.
The sheer paneling added just enough drama to keep the look memorable for the New York-based communications and brand strategy executive.
1point
#19 Maluma
Colombian superstar Maluma said he kept his “dream” Met Gala look a secret from his family this year.
Dressed in a Haider Ackermann suit, said he is going back to his Colombian roots with his outfit and chose a designer born in his native country.
“Now I’m chasing the Colombian dream and going back to my roots,” he told ET about his look.
When his family asked him to send pictures of his look, he said he told them, “not this time. I want you guys to wait to watch it.”
Dressed in a Haider Ackermann suit, said he is going back to his Colombian roots with his outfit and chose a designer born in his native country.
“Now I’m chasing the Colombian dream and going back to my roots,” he told ET about his look.
When his family asked him to send pictures of his look, he said he told them, “not this time. I want you guys to wait to watch it.”
1point
#20 Chase Sui Wonders
Chase Sui Wonders looked “wrapped and ready” for her very first Met Gala ever.
The Studio actress, 29, balanced softness and statement, wearing a lavender McQueen dress with a sleeveless high-neck gown and an oversized bow dangling over her right shoulder.
She said her look was a “nod to ancient Rome.”
“I took a trip to Pompei recently,” she told E! News. “I loved these wall reliefs. There were all these ancient Roman wall paintings from like, 200 B.C. and I loved how they were just so raw and natural and yet so beautiful and all these natural pigments.”
“They're still so well preserved,” added the actress, wearing over 32 carats of diamonds as part of her look.
The Studio actress, 29, balanced softness and statement, wearing a lavender McQueen dress with a sleeveless high-neck gown and an oversized bow dangling over her right shoulder.
She said her look was a “nod to ancient Rome.”
“I took a trip to Pompei recently,” she told E! News. “I loved these wall reliefs. There were all these ancient Roman wall paintings from like, 200 B.C. and I loved how they were just so raw and natural and yet so beautiful and all these natural pigments.”
“They're still so well preserved,” added the actress, wearing over 32 carats of diamonds as part of her look.
1point