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The Met Gala’s 2026 theme, “Fashion is Art,” might be the event’s most on-the-nose dress code yet.
Tonight’s annual star-studded fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute is inspired by “Costume Art”, the Met’s blockbuster Spring exhibition, which explores depictions of the dressed body through a series of thematic body types: “the naked body,” “classic body,” “pregnant body” and “ageing body.”
Guests have been instructed to “celebrate the countless depictions of the dressed body throughout art history” on the red carpet, and stylists have told us to expect plenty of naked dresses and subversive, sculptural silhouettes. But which celebrities will play it safe, and who will leave us speechless?
Actor Nicole Kidman was one of the first stars to arrive on the blue carpet Monday night in her role as co-chair for this year’s event, wearing a breathtaking sequinned and feathered Chanel gown — gorgeous, but not exactly nailing the dress code (yes, we are the theme police tonight).
Katy Perry, meanwhile, was channelling fencing chic in a futuristic headpiece covering her entire face and a matching white gown from Stella McCartney.
Find our best and worst dressed below…
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman looked sleek and slightly festive in a crimson red gown by Chanel, but she missed the mark when it came to understanding the theme (Getty Images)
The actor’s dress was finished with fluffy, Mongolian wool cuffs (Getty Images)
Emma Chamberlain
Internet personality and presenter Emma Chamberlain understood the assignment by using her body as a canvas wearing custom Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas (AFP/Getty)
The gown features a mesh turtle neck and cascading fabric with a multi-toned watercolor design (AFP/Getty)
Ashley Graham
Model Ashley Graham turned to Greek designer Dimitra Petsa of Di Petsa to make her showstopping second-skin nude dress, which excellently interprets the ‘nude body’ section of the Met’s new exhibit (Getty Images)
Graham was hand-sewn into the dress ahead of tonight’s event (Reuters)
Katy Perry
Fencing chic: Absolutely no words for Katy Perry’s Met Gala look… (Getty Images)
Get ready to joust… Katy Perry in a white gown with a headpiece that covered her entire face, by Stella McCartney (Getty Images)
Surprise! Katy Perry appears from behind the mask (Getty)
More to follow….