culture
May 5, 2026
Aging Bad Bunny, Heidi Klum as a Statue, and Maluma, the Colombian Face: This Was the Met Gala 2026
Celebrities invited to New York's most important annual social event were asked this year - and on the first Monday in May, as always - to dress under the theme 'Fashion is Art', linking to the exhibition 'The Art of Dressmaking' at the Costume Institute, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met).
TL;DR
- The Met Gala 2026 theme was 'Fashion is Art', inspired by the Costume Institute's exhibition.
- The event raised a record $42 million for the Met's Costume Institute.
- Beyoncé made her first Met Gala appearance in a decade and co-chaired with Venus Williams and Nicole Kidman.
- Anna Wintour has directed the event for 30 years.
- Naomi Osaka wore a complex sculpted coat by Robert Wun, taking over 3,280 hours to create.
- Sam Smith appeared in a black dress inspired by showgirls, designed by Christian Cowan.
- Maluma was the only Colombian to attend, wearing Haider Ackermann and expressing pride in his heritage.
- Bad Bunny wore hyperrealistic prosthetics created by Mike Marino to appear aged.
- Heidi Klum transformed into a 'living statue' covered in a marble-like finish.