The Most Exciting Fashion on the 2026 Met Gala Red Carpet

May 4, 2026 / Rolling Stone British /

Gigi Hadid. WireImage

Today is the first Monday in May, and that can only mean one thing—it’s time for the Met Gala, also known as the biggest night in fashion. This evening, guests who received a coveted invite to the annual fête will head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, bringing both jaw-dropping outfits and soul-crushing traffic to Fifth Avenue.

The Met Gala benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, and as always, the night’s theme is in keeping with the Met’s corresponding exhibition—this year, it is the deceptively simple “Costume Art.” The show will focus on depictions of the dressed body across the Met’s curatorial departments, juxtaposing fashion garments with works of art. This year’s exhibit will also mark the debut of the Costume Institute’s new home, the Condé M. Nast Galleries: An 11,500-square-foot space (previously the museum’s gift shop).

The dress code this evening is “Fashion Is Art,” which, per Vogue, encourages guests to “consider the many ways that designers use the body as their blank canvas.” While the guest list is kept under wraps until attendees begin to ascend the Met Gala steps, we do know that Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams are co-chairing the event, along with, of course, Anna Wintour. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, the lead sponsors for both the gala and the exhibition, are honorary chairs. Similarly to last year, the 2026 Met Gala brought back the tradition of a host committee; the co-chairs are Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz, with members including Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinéad Burke, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Alex Consani, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Rebecca Hall, Lisa, Chloe Malle, Aimee Mullins, Amy Sherald, Tschabalala Self, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Anna Weyant, Lauren Wasser, A’ja Wilson, Chase Sui Wonders and Yseult.

The Met Gala red carpet is arguably the most exciting red carpet of the entire year, as the glitterati don ensembles that have often been in the works for months; a group effort between the guests, designers, stylists and glam teams. Below, see all the most thrilling, high-fashion moments from the 2026 Met Gala, which we’ll keep updating throughout the evening.