See the Met Gala 2026 best looks and moments of Beyoncé, Rihanna and more celebrating "Costume Art"
What to know about the 2026 Met Gala
- The Met Gala is the premier fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.
- The co-chairs are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos are the honorary chairs. Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz are the host committee co-chairs.
- The theme this year is inspired by The Met's exhibit "Costume Art." The dress code is "Fashion is Art."
- Tennis player Naomi Osaka, singer Katy Perry, and other celebrities opted for dramatic reveals on the red carpet.
- This was the first Met Gala for several high-profile stars, including "Heated Rivalry" stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, singer Tate McRae, and actress Sarah Pidgeon, who have catapulted to stardom in the last year.
- In classic fashion, Rihanna and ASAP Rocky closed out the night 9 minutes after the red carpet closed. Rihanna is an iconic feature of the Met Gala, dazzling the fashion world each year with her outfit choice. This year, she opted for a piece from Maison Margiela while ASAP Rocky chose Chanel.
What happens inside the Met Gala?
After posing for photographs and walking the red carpet, stars sit down for a catered dinner from Olivier Cheng Catering and Events. The dinner includes a burrata appetizer, a rack of lamb, and finishes with three different desserts, according to Vogue.
At some point during the dinner or cocktail hour, performers will take the stage at the Temple of Dendur. In the past, Ariana Grande, Madonna, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga have all entertained guests with iconic songs.
Celebrities will also have the opportunity to browse the new exhibit before it debuts to the public on May 10.
But don't expect to see inside; the Met Gala has a strict no-phone, no-social-media policy once inside the museum. Unless, of course, you're Kylie Jenner, who is known to sneak a quick mirror selfie in the bathroom.
A small glimpse inside the Met Gala
Photographers snapped a few photos at the Met Gala as stars mingled in their dazzling outfits.
Where was Zendaya at the 2026 Met Gala?
Zendaya, a fixture at the Met Gala, was noticeably absent this year, but her stylist, Law Roach, attended. The star has become synonymous with the event, much like Rihanna, and is known for her jaw-dropping on-theme looks.
In past years, she's dressed as Joan of Arc for the 2018 theme "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" and in a monochromatic suit for the 2025 theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."
Zendaya served as co-chair in 2024, with the theme "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," walking the red carpet not once but twice with two entirely different looks.
Kate Moss and daughter Lila
Supermodel Kate Moss attended the event in Saint Laurent while her daughter Lila opted for a smaller designer, Conner Ives.
Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow chose an exciting navy blue suit for the Met Gala. Burrow is no stranger to fashion, so it came as no surprise that the athlete would make an appearance at fashion's most important night.
ASAP Rocky and Zohran Mamdani rap battle?
ASAP Rocky couldn't help but let out a laugh when he was asked if he would participate in a rap battle with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Singer Sombr Met Gala debut
Singer Sombr chose a custom metallic Valentino look for his Met Gala debut. The engaging outfit included a cape and lace top.
Irina Shayk
Model Irina Shayk's outfit was made entirely of jewelry, using watches, rings, and necklaces in lieu of traditional fabrics. The out-of-the-box idea was designed by Alexander Wang.
A family outing for the Knowles-Carters
It was a family outing for Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, and Jay-Z on Monday night. This was Blue Ivy's first time attending the event at the age of 14.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian is no stranger to the Met Gala. This year marks her 13th time attending the prestigious event. She embodied the theme "Fashion is Art," choosing a fiberglass top accessorized with blonde hair.
Eileen Gu channels whimsy, sports and more with Met Gala bubble dress
Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu discussed the artistic decision and symbolism behind her bubble dress from designer Iris van Herpen.
"I'm thinking about art in motion. I'm thinking about surrealism. I'm thinking about sports and fashion and femininity and whimsy, so" Eileen Gu told CBS News New York's Ali Bauman on the Met Gala red carpet.
Met Gala themes in past years
The 2025 theme was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" with the dress code "Tailored for You." It was the first show exclusively focused on Black designers and the first in more than 20 years that focused on menswear.
It was centered around Black style and the history of dandyism. Most celebrities wore tailored suits, jackets, vests and other sophisticated looks.
The 2024 theme was "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," and the accompanying dress code was "Garden of Time." Stars wore nature-inspired designs, with many outfits featuring extravagant flowers.
In 2023, the theme was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." The event celebrated the life and work of the designer.
The dress code was "In honor of Karl," with guests encouraged to wear looks that paid tribute to the late designer.
Menswear dazzles at Met Gala
Many male celebrities choose to take the easy route with a black tuxedo. Stars like John Batiste, Russell Westbrook, and Danny Ramirez opted for something more out of the box.
Tessa Thompson
Actress Tessa Thompson channeled a paint splatter for the 2026 Met Gala theme "Fashion is Art."
Olympic stars take center stage
Olympic stars like figure-skater Alysa Liu, freestyle skier Eileen Gu, and alpine skier Lindsey Vonn dazzled on the Met Gala red carpet.
ASAP Rocky and Rihanna walk the red carpet together
Power couple ASAP Rocky and Rihanna walked the red carpet together on Monday night. Rihanna stuns in Maison Margiela while Rocky looks great in a pink Chanel robe.
Rihanna arrives to Met Gala carpet
This is not a drill! Rihanna has arrived on the Met Gala carpet. The iconic singer and businesswoman is a fixture of the event and is typically the most anticipated celebrity to arrive every year.
Sarah Paulson
Actress Sarah Paulson joined stars like Rachel Zelger in wearing a blindfold on the red carpet.
"Devil Wears Prada 2" star Simone Ashley
"Bridgerton" and "Devil Wears Prada 2" star Simone Ashley looks dazzling in a metallic draped dress.
Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams dazzles in Chanel at the 2026 Met Gala. Abrams recently announced her new song "Hit the Wall" will be released on May 14.
Someone attempts to storm Met Gala red carpet
A person attempted to storm the Met Gala red carpet. Police quickly jumped into action to prevent the person from getting close to any celebrities.
Ayo Edebiri
Actress Ayo Edebiri joins the stars who chose elegant drapery and feathers tonight. This Chanel outfit looks absolutely gorgeous on her.
Cardi B
Cardi B wore Marc Jacobs.
Paul Anthony Kelly
"Love Story" actor Paul Anthony Kelly wore a purple velvet tailcoat paired with black trousers.
Ben Platt
Broadway star Ben Platt strayed from the traditional black suit with a custom outfit from Tanner Fletcher.
NYC Mayor Mamdani skipping Met Gala
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, will not attend the 2026 Met Gala.
It's not surprising as the event typically draws some incredibly wealthy people as attendees. The mayor has called for raising taxes on the wealthiest people and corporations to help pay for his initiatives.
However, mayors and politicians have attended the event in the past.
Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg has been a regular attendee for years. In 2021, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio attended the gala, along with his wife and son. Former Mayor Eric Adams also attended while he was in office, wearing a jacket sporting the message "End gun violence."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended in 2021, wearing a gown with the message "Tax the Rich" written on it. The House Ethics Committee later found she "impermissibly accepted gifts" and paid below market rate for the dress. Ocasio-Cortez was ordered to pay an additional $2,700 for the gown.
Hunter Schafer
"Euphoria" star Hunter Schafer wears Prada.
Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo looks great in this Valentino outfit. Domingo, one of last year's chairs for the Met Gala, always knocks it out of the park with his menswear choices.
Model Anok Yai
Model Anok Yai wears Balenciaga tonight.
Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner wears Dolce and Gabbana at the 2026 Met Gala.
Chase Infiniti
Chase Infiniti, a BAFTA and Golden Globe award nominee, looks amazing in this McQueen number.
Preview of the exhibition
Photographers got a preview of the exhibit itself. Take a look at some of what you can expect if you visit.
Beyoncé arrives to cheers
Beyoncé knocked it out of the park tonight with this look inspired by the human skeleton. She also wears a feather train, combining two of tonight's most popular stylistic choices.
The iconic singer, songwriter, and businesswoman is a co-chair of tonight's Met Gala.
Cher
Fashion icon and singer Cher arrives at the 2026 Met Gala.
Blake Lively
Blake Lively stunned on the Met Gala red carpet in Versace. Lively is considered a Met Gala icon, always knocking it out of the park with her on-theme outfits.
Her appearance comes hours after she reached a settlement with Justin Baldoni in the "It Ends With Us" lawsuit.
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny wears Zara tonight and some serious prosthetics to make him appear decades older.
Madonna
Madonna is wearing one of Anthony Vaccarello's Saint Laurent designs, accessorized with a pirate-ship hat and a brass circular trumpet. She is also joined by several women with sheer blindfolds who help display her outfit.
Tate McRae
Tate McRae is glittering in gold on the red carpet tonight.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway wears Michael Kors tonight to the Met Gala. This has already been a big year for Hathaway, who has starred in "Mother Mary" and "The Devil Wears Prada 2." The iconic actress isn't quite done yet, though; she still has Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" and "Verity" coming out later on this year.
Rachel Zelger
Rachel Zelger looks stunning in this outfit tonight. The singer and actress recently announced that she will return to Broadway to star in "Evita." She captivated last year in London with her performance of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina."
Doechii
Doechii skipped the shoes and went for a dramatic headpiece at the Met Gala.
Misty Copeland
Ballerina Misty Copeland is a member of the Met Gala Host Committee.
Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner wears Zac Posen tonight. Posen is currently the creative director of GapStudio.
"Heated Rivalry" star Hudson Williams
"Heated Rivalry" star Hudson Williams wears dramatic eye makeup tonight. This is his Met Gala debut.
Lily Rose-Depp
Lily Rose-Depp poses at the top of the Met Gala stairs. She, like Margot Robbie, wears Chanel tonight.
Margot Robbie
Actress Margot Robbie wears Chanel at the Met Gala.
SZA dazzles in yellow
SZA stuns on the Met Gala red carpet tonight.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter wears a dress made of film tonight from Dior. She embodies the theme wholeheartedly by blending the two art forms with this look.
Model Alex Cosani in Gucci
Model Alex Cosani staged a dramatic outfit reveal on the Met Gala carpet. She looks gorgeous in not one but two Gucci looks.
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber is channeling sculpting tonight in this contrasting outfit.
Stevie Nicks
Icon Stevie Nicks arrives at the Met Gala in Zara.
Kylie Jenner stuns at Met Gala
Kylie Jenner has officially arrived with a new look, bleached eyebrows.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson wears Thom Browne tonight.
Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt
Fresh off "The Devil Wears Prada 2" press tour, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, alongside wife Felicity Blunt, look astonishing on the Met Gala red carpet. Now we are waiting for Andy, I mean Anne Hathaway, to arrive!
Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum is channeling a marble statue at tonight's Met Gala, and no, she's not wearing Michelangelo.
Supermodel Gigi Hadid
Supermodel Gigi Hadid looks amazing tonight in this grey Miu Miu number. Hadid is known for her on-theme Met Gala looks.
Singer Lisa
"White Lotus" star and singer Lisa arrives at the Met Gala with extra limbs holding up a veil.
Maya Hawke
Maya Hawke, the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, will star in the highly anticipated new "Hunger Games" movie, "Sunrise on the Reaping," later this year.
Actress Camila Mendes
Actress Camila Mendes, who rose to fame as Veronica Lodge in "Riverdale," will star in "Masters of the Universe" later this year. She told CBS News New York's Ali Bauman she is wearing an Indian designer, Manish Malhotra, who was inspired by the painter Amrita Sher-Gil.
"She was known to be very much about female empowerment," Mendes said of Sher-Gil.
Camila Morrone, Laufey with designer Tory Burch
Singer Laufey and actress Camila Morrone accompany designer Tory Burch tonight. Both Morrone and Laufey wear Burch's designs.
Some of the guests expected
The Met Gala will draw some 400 or so guests.
Among the numerous luminaries on the guest list: Huma Abedin, Maude Apatow, Babyface, Bad Bunny, Angela Bassett, Jon Batiste, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Gale Brewer, Adrien Brody, Sabrina Carpenter, Colman Domingo, Ayo Edebiri, Jack Harlow, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Kim Kardashian, Comptroller Mark Levine, Rami Malek, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Kate Moss, Margot Robbie, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Amanda Seyfried, Rev. Al Sharpton, Ben Stiller, Connor Storrie, Stanley Tucci, Donatella Versace, Lindsey Vonn, Rachel Zegler, and many more.
Katy Perry mask reveal
Katy Perry took an anonymous spin on tonight's theme with a silver and mesh mask. She later removed the front part of the cover as she traveled up the Met Gala stairs.
"Heated Rivalry" star Connor Storrie
This marks Connor Storrie's first Met Gala after becoming one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood following the release of "Heated Rivalry" last year. Storrie wears Saint Laurent tonight.
Naomi Osaka dramatic reveal
Tennis player Naomi Osaka, known for her stunning outfits out on the court, marks the first dramatic reveal of the evening.
Actress Sarah Pidgeon
Actress Sarah Pidgeon absolutely catapulted into stardom this year when she starred as fashion icon Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in Ryan Murphy's "Love Story."
Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz
Host committee co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz arrive at the 2026 Met Gala. Vaccarello is the current creative director of Yves Saint Laurent, and Kravitz looks amazing in one of his designs.
CBS Mornings Gayle King and musician Doja Cat
CBS Mornings Gayle King posed with musician Doja Cat. King told CBS News New York's Ali Bauman that she is wearing Christian Siriano.
Lauren Sánchez Bezos
Lauren Sánchez Bezos is one of the event's honorary chairs alongside her husband, Jeff Bezos. The Amazon founder has remained absent from the red carpet so far this evening.
Gwendoline Christie
Gwendoline Christie took the dress code, "Fashion is Art," seriously with this look tonight.
"Girls" actress Lena Dunham
Actress Lena Dunham, known for "Girls," recently published her memoir, "Famesick."
Charli xcx
Singer, songwriter, and actress Chali xcx, known for her iconic album "Brat," looks gorgeous on the 2026 Met Gala carpet.
Musician Sam Smith
Musician Sam Smith arrived at the 2026 Met Gala wearing a giant feather headpiece.
Actor Tyriq Withers
Tyriq Withers starred in the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's popular novel "Reminders of Him." This is his first Met Gala.
Cosmopolitan editor discusses what celebrities might wear
A senior fashion editor at Cosmopolitan said celebrities' outfits could vary vastly as they take on their own interpretations of this year's theme.
Jessica Neises said some could lean into the "body and fitted silhouettes," meaning bodycon dresses. Some stars could also tap into the art side.
"Maybe the garment itself is a beautiful piece of art with embroidery or different beading," she said.
Neises said she thinks there will be a lot of color and vibrancy on the red carpet.
"Tonight is not about being quiet with the fashion. It's really about being loud. Hopefully, no plain black suits. We want extravagance," she said.
Venus Williams
Tennis player Venus Williams is serving as one of the co-chairs of the event. She, like many other attendees tonight, is leaning into statement jewelry.
Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban
Nicole Kidman, one of tonight's co-chairs of the event, brings along her daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban. This is Sunday Rose's first time attending the Met Gala, while Nicole is a seasoned pro who has attended the event for over 20 years.
Chloe Malle
Chloe Malle replaced Wintour as head of editorial content at Vogue in September 2025 at the age of 38.
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, now the chief content officer for Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, arrives at the Met Gala. Wintour is the deciding force behind who gets to attend the prestigious event.
Actress and model Cara Delevingne stuns on the red carpet
Cara Delevingne, one of the red carpet hosts for Vogue, arrives in a custom Ralph Lauren dress. Delevingne has been a frequent face at the Met Gala since her first appearance in 2011.
Who is hosting the Met Gala?
Singer Beyoncé, Actress Nicole Kidman and tennis player Venus Williams will co-chair the event alongside Anna Wintour.
There's also a host committee chaired by designer Anthony Vaccarello and filmmaker Zoë Kravitz.
There are several celebrities who are also on the host committee. It includes musicians Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, LISA, Sam Smith and Yseult; dancer Misty Copeland; actors Teyana Taylor, Elizabeth Debicki, Gwendoline Christie and Lena Dunham; WNBA superstar A'ja Wilson; models Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser and Lauren Wasser; Vogue editor Chloe Malle; and artist Anna Weyant.
Vogue red carpet hosts, Ashley Graham and Emma Chamberlain, arrive
Model Ashley Graham and influencer Emma Chamberlain will serve as Vogue's red-carpet hosts throughout the evening, alongside actor Cara Delevingne and TV personality La La Anthony.
Behind the scenes and "the calm before the storm"
What is the dress code?
The Met Gala's dress code is "Fashion is Art," going hand-in-hand with the "Costume Art" theme.
Organizers say the show will highlight the connection between clothing and the body and the "complex interplay between artistic representations of the body and fashion as an embodied art form."
What time does the red carpet start?
The event is held on the first Monday in May every year at the museum in New York City.
Arrivals officially start at 5:30 p.m., but many stars are known to show up late.
Singer Rihanna showed up around 10 p.m. last year, just after rapper and Bronx native Cardi B and actress Halle Berry. The first to arrive last year was singer-songwriter and actress Teyana Taylor a little after 5 p.m.
Members of the press check in hours before to line up along The Met's iconic steps and watch the stars arrive.
What does the theme "Costume Art" mean?
The annual gala is based on the spring exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.
"Costume Art" strives to make the connection between bodies and the clothes they wear, according to the exhibit's curator.
"Costume Art will present a dynamic and scholarly conversation between garments from The Costume Institute and an array of artworks from across The Met's collection, elevating universal and timeless themes while bringing forward new ideas and ways of seeing," said Max Hollein, CEO of The Met.

































































































