The 2026 Met Gala red carpet delivered a spectacular display of artistic fashion, with celebrities embracing the theme 'fashion is art' under the guidance of event chairs Nicole Kidman, Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. This year's gala was controversially funded by new honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, drawing both admiration and criticism.
Standout Looks from the Red Carpet
Nicole Kidman, a long-time Chanel ambassador, stunned in a sequinned blood-red gown adorned with puffs of feathers on its peplum and cuffs. Emma Chamberlain made history as the first to step onto the green carpet, wearing a custom watercolour Mugler gown that appeared to melt into the ground, inspired by the maison's 1997 La Chimère ensemble.
Cara Delevingne, presenting at the event, opted for a gothic yet elegant Ralph Lauren dress with a low back. Ashley Graham showcased a sandy, sheer creation from Greek designer Dimitra Petsa of Di Petsa, which Vogue noted she had to be sewn into. Anna Wintour, the gala's mastermind, wore an eau de nil feathered cape, clutching a small box of mineral water as an accessory.
Lauren Sánchez Bezos, whose honorary chair position sparked controversy, wore a painting-inspired Schiaparelli gown by Daniel Roseberry, paying homage to Madame X, John Singer Sargent's 1884 portrait of socialite Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau. Venus Williams kept her black dress simple to highlight a Swarovski necklace recreating one from a 2022 portrait by Robert Pruitt.
Athlete Lauren Wasser shone in a gold lamé shorts-suit, turban, and chunky timepiece. Chase Sui Wonders, a host committee member, wore a light lavender gown with a large bow sculpted to look windblown. Charli XCX donned a strapless black Saint Laurent gown with a resin flower stem referencing Yves Saint Laurent's spring/summer 1988 Vincent van Gogh tribute collection.
Doja Cat's gown combined goddess draping with shiny silicone, while Naomi Osaka wore a Robert Wun ensemble featuring a palette-shaped hat by London milliner Awon Golding. Lena Dunham appeared in an explosively feathered red gown, and host committee member Tschabalala Self chose a dove grey gown with an 18th-century underwear silhouette.
The event, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, continues to be a highlight of the fashion calendar, blending celebrity glamour with high-concept artistry.
