The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were transformed once again into the world's most prestigious runway for the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, 'Costume Art,' invited guests to explore the intersection of nature, history, and the surreal under the official dress code 'Fashion Is Art'.
The evening in New York City was a display of creativity that ranged from ethereal elegance to bold, sculptural statements, celebrating the opening of the new Condé M. Nast Galleries.
"When you go through the museum, the only art form that connects every single gallery in the museum is the dressed body, so it's this sort of commonality within art and culture," said Andrew Bolton, Head Curator of the Costume Institute.
"Even if people say, 'I don't care about fashion,' or 'I'm not interested,' you're still making a statement by saying that," he said.
From the return of Hollywood royalty to the emergence of new fashion icons, these are the looks that defined the evening.
Singer Sabrina Carpenter ascended the steps in a shimmering, custom Dior halter gown made partly from film strips of the 1954 movie Sabrina.
Actor Blake Lively was a radiant vision in a voluminous gown featuring a multi-layered skirt of pastel ruffles in peach, lavender, and mint green.
Meanwhile, singer Tyla made a splash in a vibrant turquoise silk skirt paired with a sheer, crystal-encrusted bodice by Valentino.
BLACKPINK member Jennie Kim also opted for a sleek, iridescent "mermaid" look, her dress composed of scales that shimmered under the camera flashes.
Black and white remained a perennial favourite, but with a modern, high-fashion twist that leaned into the "Art" theme.
Actor Anne Hathaway stunned in a sculptural strapless Michael Kors gown featuring a dramatic hand-painted dove motif.
Singer Troye Sivan kept things moody and textural, sporting a cropped faux-fur waistcoat over a crisp shirt and tie.
"K-Pop Demon Hunters" star, singer Audrey Nuna embraced a graphic aesthetic, pairing a heavily embellished black-and-white ensemble with a matching wide-brimmed hat and a daring dark lip.
For those looking to push the boundaries of the theme, volume and unconventional accessories were the order of the day.
Model Anok Yai was a vision of bronze perfection, her skin and hair shimmering with a metallic finish that complemented her hooded, architectural black gown by Balenciaga.
In one of the evening's most dramatic reveals, singer and co-chair Beyoncé arrived in a custom "skeleton gown" by Olivier Rousteing, featuring a spectacular feather cape and train in shades of grey.
Providing a truly unique moment, actor Sarah Paulson arrived in a voluminous grey tulle "cloud" dress by Matières Fécales, featuring a surreal dollar-bill eye mask.
BLACKPINK member Lisa stunned in a white, veiled ensemble by Robert Wun, drawing inspiration from traditional Thai dance forms.
Singer Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky proved once again they are fashion's power couple; Rihanna wore a crystallised silver Maison Margiela gown with a voluminous textured cape, while A$AP Rocky opted for a pastel pink overcoat.
Rapper Cardi B brought sculptural volume to the carpet in a black lace catsuit defined by massive, oversized puff sleeves with peach and lavender accents.
Artist Bad Bunny adopted a surrealist take on the theme, appearing as an older man with styled white hair and a walking stick, providing a critique of the industry's obsession with youth.
Actress Nicole Kidman leaned into theatricality with a Moulin Rouge-inspired Chanel look designed by Matthieu Blazy. The saturated red sequin gown, accented with delicate feathered trim, paid homage to the cabaret showgirl aesthetic while maintaining a high-fashion silhouette.
Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu embraced the "Costume Art" theme with a highly technical and whimsical "bubble dress" designed by Iris van Herpen.
The avant-garde piece featured 15,000 glass bubbles and took approximately 2,550 hours of meticulous craftsmanship to complete. Beyond its visual complexity, the gown was interactive, utilizing internal mechanisms to blow actual bubbles as Gu ascended the museum steps.
As the sun sets on another Met Gala, the fashion world begins the long wait for next year. But for now, these images of craftsmanship and creativity will be analysed and archived as some of the most memorable moments in the event's storied history.
Heavy monsoon rains triggered deadly landslides at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, killing at least eight people, including children, and forcin...
Christian Dior has secured one of fashion's most coveted celebrity endorsements after both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wore custom haute couture des...
The United States has confirmed that a previously delayed troop rotation to Poland will resume within weeks, reassuring Warsaw after months of uncerta...
Heavy monsoon rains triggered deadly landslides at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, killing at least eight people, including children, and forcing authorities to evacuate residents from high-risk areas early on Monday.
Christian Dior has secured one of fashion's most coveted celebrity endorsements after both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wore custom haute couture designs by creative director Jonathan Anderson for their wedding in New York.
The United States has confirmed that a previously delayed troop rotation to Poland will resume within weeks, reassuring Warsaw after months of uncertainty over the future of the American military presence in the country.
History rarely enters international politics in isolation. More often, it arrives accompanied by shifting alliances, changing strategic calculations and evolving national interests.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has risen to 3,342, according to the country's information ministry, as rescue teams continue searching affected areas and survivors face an uncertain recovery.
Governments are tightening restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media amid growing concerns over mental health, online safety and platform design, but questions remain over enforcement and whether bans can meaningfully change behaviour.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday as Iran held funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four members of his family on the second day of mass processions. Three of Khamenei's sons attended the ceremony, while his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, made no public appearance.
Christian Dior has secured one of fashion's most coveted celebrity endorsements after both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wore custom haute couture designs by creative director Jonathan Anderson for their wedding in New York.
New details have emerged from the closely guarded wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, who married on Friday (3 July) in an intimate garden specially constructed inside Madison Square Garden in New York.
The closely guarded wedding of pop superstar Taylor Swift and famed NFL player Travis Kelce is speculated to take place in New York this week, with multiple media outlets and city officials pointing to Madison Square Garden as the venue.
Britain said on Tuesday (30 June) it could intervene in Paramount Skydance Corp’s proposed $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially delaying one of the largest media mergers in recent years despite approvals from the United States, China and several other major markets.
Science does not usually have much to do with K-pop. But a postgraduate student in southern China has found a way to bring the two together, and the result is now permanently written into the scientific record.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment