Beyoncé, Rihanna and Stars Embrace Costume Art Theme at 2026 Met Gala

Celebrities turned out for the 2026 Met Gala, embracing the Costume Art theme with lavish outfits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual fundraiser for its Costume Institute.

Broadway star Joshua Henry kicked off the red carpet with a performance of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," backed by a band and dancers on the Met steps, which were dressed up as mossy bricks in a lush garden.

Co-chairs included Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Vogue Global Editorial Director Anna Wintour. Other attendees featured Naomi Osaka, Angela Bassett, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter. Bad Bunny, Heidi Klum and Katy Perry went all-in on the costume element and were nearly unrecognizable.

Beyoncé returned after 10 years in a gown by French designer Olivier Rousteing. It had an embellished skeleton design and a giant feathered cape. She walked the carpet with husband Jay-Z and 14-year-old daughter Blue Ivy, one of the youngest guests despite the usual 18-and-over rule. The BBC's Nada Tawfik asked how it felt to be back; Beyoncé said it felt great to be there with her daughter and husband.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, who co-chaired last year, arrived late as usual. Rihanna wore a custom Maison Margiela by Glenn Martens; Rocky had on a long pink coat.

Anna Wintour wore a feathery custom Chanel gown. Co-chair Nicole Kidman chose a red, long-sleeved beaded column gown by Chanel and attended with daughter Sunday Rose.

Co-chair Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon winner, wore a black sparkling gown with a silver, jewel-encrusted neck piece. When the BBC asked how it felt to co-chair, she said, "I'm dancing inside."

Serena Williams wore a silver Marc Jacobs gown echoing classical art in the museum. Lauren Sánchez Bezos, an honorary chair and wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, donned a Schiaparelli gown inspired by John Singer Sargent's scandalous "Madame X."

Heidi Klum dressed as one of the museum's marble statues. Bad Bunny, 32, wore makeup to look like a dapper old man. Angela Bassett's pink Prabal Gurung gown drew from Laura Wheeler Waring's Harlem Renaissance painting "Girl in a Pink Dress." She told the BBC's Nada Tawfik that fashion was integral to getting into character.

Emma Chamberlain wore a multicolored Mugler gown by Miguel Castro Freitas resembling a painting. Model and activist Aariana Rose Philip made history as the first wheelchair user to attend, per Vogue. She told the magazine, "For so long, disabled people were not represented anywhere. The thought of even being able to exist at an event like this... nobody even went there. To go from that to now, somehow finding myself there - I can't say how blessed and honored I feel attending."

Teyana Taylor danced in her fringed dress. Indian designer Manish Malhotra wore a bandhgala with an ornate cape tributing Mumbai, made by 50 artisans over 960 hours. Bollywood director Karan Johar wore a Manish Malhotra design with a hand-painted cape featuring Indian mythology characters. He told the BBC that fashion was a massive part of his movies, now iconic in modern Bollywood, and the day left him emotional.

Cara Delevingne's Ralph Lauren gown looked simple from the front but revealed dramatic sheer details on the back. Chase Sui Wonders wore a pale lavender dress dripping with diamonds. Lena Dunham returned in a vivid red Valentino dress of feathers and sequins, inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi's "Judith Slaying Holofernes," specifically the blood from the Assyrian general's neck, she told Vogue.

Charlie XCX picked a sophisticated black Saint Laurent gown with a floral front embellishment over her signature color. Doja Cat wore a Grecian Saint Laurent dress in silicone fabric. Activist Sinéad Burke returned in a black corseted gown with flowing sleeve details.

Naomi Osaka had two looks: first a white and red Robert Wun outfit, then a deep maroon lace-up dress after shedding her white coat. Katy Perry wore a reflective mirrored mask that opened. Connor Storrie from Heated Rivalry sported daring Saint Laurent menswear; co-star Hudson Williams wore a Balenciaga matador-esque suit with makeup inspired by "Black Swan."

BLACKPINK's Lisa wore a white Robert Wun gown with mannequin arms holding a veil. Bandmate Rosé wore Saint Laurent. Zoe Kravitz's black lace Saint Laurent gown by Anthony Vaccarello had pockets she used while posing amid engagement rumors with Harry Styles.

Stevie Nicks arrived with swagger. Cher wore a black dress and jacket evoking leather and lace. Madonna's nautical-witch look included a tall-ship headpiece, grey veil and model entourage. Kim Kardashian credited British duo Whitaker Malem for her superhero-inspired outfit. Kylie Jenner's Schiaparelli dress looked like it was falling off but stayed put with a nude bodice. Kendall Jenner's Zac Posen for GAP dress echoed her sister's theme; reporters asked if they prepped together.

Sarah Paulson wore a dollar-bill mask. When the BBC asked what it signified, she said the "1 percent."