Met Gala theme 2026, red carpet recap: Stars arrive in ‘costume art’ as biggest fashion event begins

Beyonce fans were almost certain that a new album was coming as Queen Bey descended on the red carpet of the Met Gala 2026.

As yet, we have not had the drop. We have, however, had a stunning photo shoot posted on Bey’s Instagram showing off her jaw-dropping Met Gala look.

The annual Met Gala always attracts some of the most outrageous and extravagant outfits the fashion world has ever seen, and this year was no exception.

To celebrate the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, “Costume art”, this year’s theme for the Met Gala is “Fashion is art”, and celebrities truly tapped into their inner artist.

Sheer and daring dressing was a major trend, as huge names in pop culture began ascending the iconic Met Museum stairs.

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With the red carpet winding down, the famous faces have now spilled inside, where cameras, including phone cameras, are not allowed. The Met Gala has a strict rule about what happens inside stays inside.

What we do know is that over the next few hours, the guests are invited to take in the actual exhibit (the whole purpose of the event, ostensibly) and are seated for dinner (apparently actually edible, for those choose to partake).

The seating chart is a thing of military precision, with the Vogue and Met team ensuring that those with beef (Madonna and Cher in the same room, oh my) are kept apart and that there’s an interesting mix.

There is usually a musical performance (Beyonce and a potential album launch, maybe?) and most definitely a lot of networking, air kissing and a—e kissing.

You may think you missed Bad Bunny but he was hiding in plain sight.

The Puerto Rican superstar was dressed in a snazzy black suit and cane but the more notable aspect to his outfit was the ageing make-up and grey wig designed to make him look decades older.

You can’t be a monarch without the requisite accessories and Beyonce knows the symbolic power of a crown.

The bejewelled skeleton piece comes coordinated with a feathered shawl and train that drapes down for a full flight of stairs.

She even comes with her own hype squad with daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay-Z both on hand. The family that serves together eats together.

Blake Lively is the queen of the big train at the Met Gala, and it’s a tradition she’s upholding this year with her fairy floss-esque watercolour 2006 archival Versace gown.

Lively’s appearance comes hours after she settled the long-running and ugly lawsuit between her and former colleague Justin Baldoni.

With all that behind her, she can surely knock back a few drinks inside. That doesn’t mean she won’t be asked ALL the questions.

Mother-and-daughter Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner arrived together and they’re tonally co-ordinated.

Kardashian’s flame-coloured ensemble with a rigid body piece is evoking cinematic costuming traditions all the way back to Metropolis’s Maria.

If you’re Madonna, nothing is too extra. The pop legend has seven women carrying her train up the famous Met stairs, and that feels about right.

The flowy ensemble includes a literal boat (presumably unseaworthy) headpiece.

The breakout star of the moment, Chase Infiniti, cuts a striking figure in a sleeveless, floor-length dress that’s swirling with bright colours.

Infiniti was in the 2025 Oscar best picture, One Battle After Another, and is an early favourite to win an Emmy for her performance in The Handmaid’s Tale follow-up, The Testaments.

Rapper Doechii’s dramatic peek-a-boo look is from Marc Jacobs. She’ll have to keep her balance with her headpiece, but that should be made easier with her bare feet.