The best dressed stars on the 2026 Met Gala red carpet

It’s the first Monday in May and that can only mean one thing – the Fashion Oscars is upon us and boy are we excited. The 2026 Met Gala promises to be the biggest night in the fashion calendar and this year’s theme Costume Art and accompanying dress code, Fashion is Art invites our favourite celebrities to don their finery and have their moment in the spotlight.

Co-chairs Beyoncé (making her first appearance at the Met since 2016), Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour will lead proceedings, and we can’t wait to see how all the illustrious attendees interpret this year’s theme. We predict a naked dress or two…

Rihanna attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala 2025 in New York, USA. Picture date: Monday May 5, 2025. Wearing a black corset tailored ensemble with matching hat — Rihanna attending the Met in 2025

As H! Fashion’s Fashion Features Editor and trend expert Tania Leslau explains: “The theme of this year’s Met Gala is Costume Art, which examines the symbiotic relationship between fashion and art. The question of whether fashion is art has long divided the style set, with Anna Wintour herself positing that the two are different mediums (“Fashion does not exist in a vacuum”) and Karl Lagerfeld declaring: “Art is art, fashion is fashion.”

Last year, subtlety took a back seat in favour of theatrical ensembles and show-stopping entrances. Rihanna arrived fashionably late – as usual – looking stunning in a dramatic Marc Jacobs look that also revealed her baby bump. Zendaya – always a Met Gala favourite here at H! Fashion opted for razor sharp Louis Vuitton tailoring, while Doja Cat plumped for a pinstripe corset and no trousers.

So, the questions remains – whose outfit is everyone going to be furiously discussing for the rest of the week?

The 2026 Met Gala’s Best Dressed Guests:

Chase Sui Wonders

Actress Chase Sui Wonders opted for a beautiful dove grey dress by Alexander McQueen teamed with Amina Muaddi shoes and Tiffany & Co, jewellery.

Sinead Burke opted for a black gown with sequin detail and mesh cape

Sinéad Burke

Writer Sinéad Burke opted for a black gown with sequin detail and mesh cape for the fashion night of the year.

Ashley Graham

Ashley Graham opted for one of our favourite labels DiPetsa paired with Gianvito Rossi shoes.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams opted for a sparkling black custom Swarovski dress with glittering jewels.

Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and Nicole Kidman on the red carpet - Nicole in red sequins and Sunday Rose in a pale pink strapless embellished dress

Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban

Co-chair Nicole Kidman had a sweet mother and daughter moment on the red carpet with Sunday Rose Kidman. Nicole looked sensational in red sequins by Chanel.