From statues to masterpieces: The best Met Gala 2026 looks

For the past 78 years, the first Monday in May has signified the biggest event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met): the Met Gala. Celebrities, billionaires and designers pay thousands of dollars to take part in one of the biggest nights in fashion, and I eat it up every time.

This year, the theme was “Fashion is Art,” which correlates to the Met’s Fashion Institute’s new exhibition “Costume Art.” The new exhibition explores the “role of the dressed body in art and fashion,” according to an article by Vogue. “Costume Art” takes visitors through the different bodies of the fashion and art world, including the nude body, classical body, reclaimed body, the anatomical body and several others.

Many of the attendees followed the theme, which, if you know the Met Gala, cannot be said that often. Additionally, many designs stood out to me this year. Here are 10 of my favorite looks from the event.

Anok Yai

Yai, an American model, embodied the sculpture of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows with her outfit. Wearing a black Balenciaga gown, Yai painted her skin bronze, embodying the classical statues typical of the Catholic church. The bronze continued into her hair, and a clear, tear-like substance ran down her cheeks. She looked absolutely stunning, like she belonged in a museum.

Doechii

Doechii can do no wrong, especially at the Met. The Grammy award-winning artist worked with Marc Jacobs to design a draped, asymmetrical garment that wrapped around the back of her neck. She told Cosmopolitan that she wanted to wear something that felt human and natural. She notably didn’t wear any shoes with the look and even had henna on her feet.

Grace Ling

Ling made her Met Gala debut wearing her own design. The Singaporean designer wore a platinum-plated, 3D-printed bodice featuring thorns and roses. The whole design gave the illusion of being swept away in the wind.

Heidi Klum

Much like Yai, Klum referenced sculptures in her look, except hers are made of marble. Klum referenced not only the “Veiled Vestal” by Raffaele Monti, but also the classical body as part of the museum’s exhibition. Klum truly transformed her entire body into a Greek sculpture, even highlighting the drapery and cloth that are common to this art form.

Hunter Schafer

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The best way to describe Schafer’s look is adorable. Working with Prada, the “Euphoria” star referenced Gustav Klimt’s 1912 painting, “Portrait of Mäda Primavesi.” Schafer wore a white, floral empire-waist dress. Holes in the white linen gave the effect that she came to life and escaped from the canvas.

Jeremy Pope

Surprisingly, many men actually dressed up for the gala this year. Pope wore archival Vivienne Westwood. This piece featured the nude body, with a top beaded to resemble a muscular torso. I thought he did a great job with the theme, and I loved getting to see interesting fashion on men.

Madonna

What can I say about Madonna that hasn’t already been said? In short, I adored her outfit, and I thought it was the perfect look for the queen of pop herself. The singer referenced “The Temptation of St. Anthony” by Leonora Carrington by wearing a black suit, a sheer gray veil and a boat on her head. It was over the top, dramatic and so Madonna.

Paloma Elsesser

Elsesser, an American model, looked absolutely stunning in a dress by the Bureau of Imagination. The model worked with designer Francesco Risso to create a garment that takes pieces from 30 vintage dresses to design a make-shift collage of fashion history. Risso also hand-painted and embellished the dress himself. While the dress may not be referencing a specific work of art, there’s no doubting that this look is art in its own right.

Rachel Zegler

I truly believe that I could be in the running as Zegler’s number one fan. Not to mention, her outfit referenced one of my favorite paintings: “The Execution of Lady Jane Gray.” The actress wore a sheer white cloth over her eyes, much like Lady Gray did the day she was executed. I love it when two of my favorite interests cross over.

SZA

Last but not least, we have SZA. She truly looked like a magnificent butterfly. The dress was created using thrifted fabric on eBay, according to Vogue. The singer wore a flowered headpiece and wing-like garments attached to her arms. She looked fantastic, as always, and I can’t wait to see what she wears next year.

pedenae@miamioh.edu

Ayla Peden is a sophomore sociology and journalism major with plans on pursuing a career in law. She is the assistant editor for Culture and spends way too much time in the newsroom. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading and chatting with friends at a coffee shop — basically any old-lady activity.