The Fashion Trends That Dominated the 2026 Met Gala
Here’s how this year’s attendees interpreted the dress code: “fashion is art.”
Published on May 7, 2026
The first Monday of May returns once more. Drawing from the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Costume Art,” this year’s Met Gala adopted the theme “Fashion is Art,” inviting guests to approach fashion as an expressive act, with the body as a canvas.
Held at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the red carpet revealed a wide range of interpretations. Some attendees referenced iconic artworks through intricate textiles and prints, while others leaned into sculptural forms to realize their creative vision. Clad in designs by leading couturiers and fashion houses, guests either embraced dramatic, larger-than-life statements or opted for more discreet takes on the brief.
Even so, striking ensembles defined this year’s red carpet. Below is a closer look at the trends that stood out at the 2026 Met Gala.
The Key Fashion Trends at the 2026 Met Gala
Dress imitates art
It was only natural to see ensembles rooted in classical art take center stage. From tactile finishes on streamlined silhouettes to larger-than-life sculptural forms, personalities like Emma Chamberlain, Hunter Schafer, and more set the evening’s sartorial tone with looks that read as wearable works of art.
Emma Chamberlain refrences the "La Chimere" (1997), wearing Mugler. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/EMMACHAMBERLAIN
Yu-Chi Lyra Kuro's "Winged Victory of Samothrace"-inspired look by Jean Paul Gaultier. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/YLYRAK
Hunter Schafer's custom Prada look inspired by Gustav Klimt's "Mäda Primavesi." PHOTO: INSTAGRAMHUNTERSCHAFER
Heidi Klum references the "Veiled Vestal" by Raffaelle Monti, wearing custom Mike Marino. PHOTO: JAKE ZAOUTIS VIA INSTAGRAM/HEIDIKLUM
Gracie Abrams channels Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss," wearing a look by Chanel. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/GRACIEABRAMS
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Shining, shimmering, splendid
Intricate crystal embellishments, hand-embroidered sequins, and diamond-encrusted gowns emerged as defining interpretations of the dress code. Craftsmanship took precedence, with guests such as BLACKPINK’s Jennie, Ejae of K-Pop Demon Hunters, and others arriving in form-fitting, armor-like pieces that emphasized meticulous, artisanal handwork.
Teyana Taylor in Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/TEYANATAYLOR
Louisa Jacobson in Dilara Findikoglu. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/LOUISA_JACOBSON
BLACKPINK Jisoo in Dior. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES, COURTESY OF DIOR
BLACKPINK Jennie in Chanel. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/CHANELOFFICIAL
Ejae in custom Swarovski. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/EJAE_K
Rihanna in Maison Margiela. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/MAISONMARGIELA
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Second skin
On the other end of the spectrum, attendees leaned into the “body as canvas” directive through sculpted bustiers and sheer, torso-baring fabrics. The “naked dress” trend evolved into a conceptual statement, using translucent and skin-like finishes to trace and emphasize the body's anatomy.
Kylie Jenner in Schiaparelli. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KYLIEJENNER
Kendall Jenner in GAP Studio by Zac Posen. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ZACPOSEN
Alex Consani in Gucci. PHOTO: X/GUCCI
Gigi Hadid in Miu Miu. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/GIGHADID
Laura Harrier in Di Petsa. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/LAUREHARRIER
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The pronounced hip
Streamlined silhouettes surprisingly dominated the red carpet, yet designers brought some drama to the otherwise straightforward cut through accentuated hips. Whether via voluminous floral overskirts or feathered trims framing the waistline, these details disrupted the column gown’s otherwise linear form.
Hoyeon Jung in Louis Vuitton. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/HOOOOOYEONY
BLACKPINK Rose in Saint Laurent. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ANTHONYVACCARELLO
Zoe Kravitz in Saint Laurent. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ZOEKRAVITZSOURCE
Nicole Kidman in Chanel. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/CHANELOFFICIAL
Donatella Versace in Versace. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/DONATELLA_VERSACE
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A dramatic headpiece
Elsewhere, ornate headpieces crowned already opulent ensembles. Drawing from classical references—such as BLACKPINK Lisa’s traditional Thai dance-inspired look and Madonna’s “The Temptation of St. Anthony”-inspired ensemble—these finishing touches punctuated each look’s visual narrative, reinforcing the art-driven direction of the night.
BLACKPINK Lisa in Robert Wun. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/LALALALISA_M
SZA in Bode. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/BODE
Madonna in Saint Laurent. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/MADONNA
Gwendoline Christie wears Giles Deacon with a headpiece by Stephen Jones and a mask by Gillian Wearing. PHOTO: INSTARGAM/GILESDEACON_
Katy Perry in Stella McCartney. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/STELLAMCCARTNEY
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Anatomical motifs
The “Fashion is Art” dress code also prompted a surge of anatomical references that treated the human body as both a canvas and a sculpture. Designers and celebrities explored the centrality of the dressed body through surrealist and literal depictions of human biology.
Chase Infiniti in Thom Browne. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/THOMBROWNE
Sabine Getty in Ashi Studio. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/SABINEGETTY
Lena Mahfouf in Burc Akyol. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/LENAMAHFOUF
Nichapat Suphap in Robert Wun. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/NICHAPAT
Jeremy Pope in Vivienne Westwood. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/JEREMYPOPE
Beyonce in Olivier Rousteing. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/OLIVIER_ROUSTEING
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Pau is Preview’s go-to fashion girl. On most days, you’ll find her with coffee in hand, and dressed in an oversized blazer with floor-grazing jeans.