Often dubbed fashion’s biggest night, the gala raises money for New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
It also celebrates the opening of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition at the New York museum, with this year’s theme inviting guests to explore fashion as an art form.
Leaning heavily into this year’s theme of “Costume Art,” Bad Bunny was dressed up as an elderly man, Klum was draped in a Statue of Liberty costume and Perry went incognito in a silver mask.
Bad Bunny poses during the Met Gala, an annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute with this year’s theme ‘Costume Art’ in New York City, New York, U.S., May 4, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
Pop icon Beyonce was among the most notable appearances of the night, returning to the Met Gala for the first time in 10 years as one of its co-chairs.
Beyonce attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala 2026 in New York, USA. Picture date: Monday May 4, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Wire
Beyonce was joined by her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, and husband Jay-Z, with the 14-year-old making her Met Gala debut alongside her parents.
The Lemonade singer, who is co-chairing this year’s event, wore a bejewelled skeleton gown curated by French designer Olivier Rousteing.
Blue Ivy Carter and Jay-Z attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala 2026 in New York, USA. Picture date: Monday May 4, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Wire
Actor Blake Lively, who settled a lawsuit earlier on Monday with co-star Justin Baldoni over the filming of the 2024 romantic drama “It Ends With Us,” also walked the carpet.
Kim Kardashian turned heads at the Met Gala in a tangerine fibreglass breastplate by British pop artist and sculptor Allen Jones.
The reality star’s armoured look, repurposed from a cast Jones made in the 1960s, was paired with a leather skirt by London-based studio Whitaker Malem.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: (L-R) Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Kardashian appeared without her boyfriend and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, instead bringing her mother, Kris Jenner.
“I have seen his work referenced so many times by people in fashion, and I’ve always been a big admirer of his work,” she told Vogue of her desire to work with Jones.
Jones’s work was made famous in the pop art movement of the 1960s. He is best known for his controversial sculptures incorporating the human body.
Not to be outdone by her sisters on the gala steps, Kylie Jenner turned heads in a nude illusion Schiaparelli dress, featuring a sculptural bodice that mimicked a bare chest and flowed into a long lace skirt and train.
Meanwhile, Kendall Jenner looked statuesque in a custom GapStudio creation by Zac Posen.
An early arrival, British model and actress Cara Delevingne posed for photographs in a figure-hugging dark-coloured dress by Ralph Lauren with sheer details over her shoulders and back, and a long train that trailed behind her.
Kylie Jenner attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala 2026 in New York (Matt Crossick/PA)
Former Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour, actress Nicole Kidman and tennis champion Venus Williams also co-chaired the 2026 fundraiser.
Each year, Dame Anna handpicks a group of celebrities for the Met Gala Host Committee.
This year’s host committee co-chairs include Yves Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello and actress Zoe Kravitz.
Sinead Burke poses during the Met Gala, an annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute with this year’s theme ‘Costume Art’ in New York City, New York, U.S., May 4, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
The 2026 committee includes English singer Sam Smith, actress Gwendoline Christie and Irish writer and activist Sinead Burke, alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat, among others.
Christie stepped out in a Giles Deacon ensemble, carrying a mask, while Smith wowed crowds in a dramatic black feather headpiece.
Sam Smith wore a feather headpiece to the 2026 Met Gala (Matt Crossick/PA)
Kravitz, who attended without rumoured fiance Harry Styles, wore a sheer black lace dress with structured hips by Yves Saint Laurent.
Brat hitmaker Charli XCX and model Kate Moss turned heads in black ensembles from the same fashion house.
“My dress tonight has an iris flower made out of resin, stitched onto its centre,” Charli told Vogue of her look.
“We’ve tried to kind of mirror that in the make-up, by using more sheer and translucent tones to reflect the resin.”
Charli XCX wore a Yves Saint Laurent gown to the Met Gala (Matt Crossick/PA)
Prada remained a popular choice among the gala’s British contingent.
F1 star Damson Idris and actor Nicholas Hoult both donned Prada outfits for the occasion.
Actress Carey Mulligan wore an archival red silk column gown from the fashion house’s 1998 spring collection.
Elsewhere, Daisy Edgar-Jones floated down the steps in a white custom Alexander McQueen look.
Daisy Edgar-Jones wore a custom Alexander McQueen gown (Matt Crossick/PA)
A gala spokesman previously said the dress code invited guests to express “their own relationship to fashion as an embodied art form” and to “celebrate the countless depictions of the dressed body throughout art history”.
Kidman, who attended with her daughter, Sunday Rose, wore a red sequin gown with a red feather detail around her waist.
Serena Williams, Anne Hathaway, Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie were among the other famous faces gracing the Gala’s steps.
Blake Lively attends the 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art”(Photo by Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
British actor Joe Alwyn – who has not attended since 2016 – wore Valentino, while Suki Waterhouse channelled a Grecian goddess in a low-cut pink gown.
Romeo Beckham, the middle child of Sir David and Victoria, made his Gala debut in a Burberry tuxedo.
English fashion designer Stella McCartney walked the steps arm-in-arm with American director Greta Gerwig.
Bridgerton actress Simone Ashley wore a draped chain dress by McCartney.
Fresh off the Super Bowl half-time show, Bad Bunny arrived wearing a black suit, complete with facial prosthetics and a wig that transformed him into an old man.
Lena Mahfouf attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, German model Heidi Klum transformed into a “living sculpture” in a custom look made of latex and spandex that gave the head-to-toe illusion of a carved stone.
Kendall Jenner attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
American singer SZA – who stunned crowds in a yellow ensemble by Bode – had her dress sourced from fabric found on eBay.
SZA arrives at the Met Gala steps (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna arrive at the Met Gala (Matt Crossick/PA)
Rihanna wore a sculptural metallic bejewelled ensemble by Maison Margiela, She appeared alongside her husband A$AP Rocky, who wore a pink Chanel suit as the pair maintained their tradition of arriving late to the festivities.
Heidi Klum at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
The Met Gala, first held in 1948, has evolved from a society dinner into one of the world’s biggest cultural events, where stars push the boundaries of fashion.