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An Exclusive Look Inside the 2026 Met Gala

Center-stage blonde woman in a beige fringed dress points at the camera while surrounded by suited staff with lanyards on backstage at a fashion show.

Photographed by Poupay Jutharat

Photographed by Poupay Jutharat

If you’re one of the lucky few who got to experience the 2026 Met Gala–and the accompanying exhibition, “Costume Art”, which explores the intersection of fashion, the human body, and artistic expression—then you already know it was one for the ages. As ever, the Metropolitan Museum of Art played host to the hotly anticipated event, and truly, this year the attendees raised the bar.

Co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams brought the glamour in full and glorious force, taking the 2026 Met Gala’s dress code of “Fashion is Art” at its word.

Ahead, take an exclusive peek inside the 2026 Met Gala:

  • Three people in black formal outfits pose in a museum hall with marble columns behind them, two tall men flanking a child in the center.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    1/45
  • Woman in a black leather dress posing in a museum hall with a glass display in the background, wearing gold jewelry and high heels
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    2/45
  • Woman in a black-and-white embroidered coat over a cream gown posing in a museum gallery with statues in the background.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    3/45
  • Man in a black tuxedo and bow tie stands beside a smiling woman in a gold gown with a white fur stole at a formal event, museum backdrop behind them.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    4/45
  • Smiling woman in a red and black patterned evening gown stands in a museum gallery with statues and display cases in the background.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    5/45
  • Two women pose together in a museum gallery, smiling; one wears a black and white off-shoulder dress, the other a yellow and black patterned gown with green accents.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    6/45
  • Smiling woman in a sparkling gold lace gown holding a light wrap, posing in a museum gallery with classical statues behind her.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    7/45
  • Woman in a black formal gown seated in a wheelchair inside a museum, with statues and a domed display in the background.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    8/45
  • Close-up of a pale pink, voluminous dress hem and burgundy high heels with large bows, standing on a warm-toned floor.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    9/45
  • Smiling woman in a colorful turquoise and green gown with braided circular hair accessories, standing in a marble lobby with statues in the background.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    10/45
  • Woman in a pink one-shoulder gown with a long white cape sweeping behind her, in a museum hallway.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    11/45
  • Group of stylishly dressed people taking selfies at a press event, phones raised amid microphone gear and a floral backdrop.
    Photographed by Poupay Jutharat
    12/45
  • Man in a black polka-dot sleeveless top and black pants walks past a hedge at a formal event, backdrop of hanging white flowers and guests in evening wear.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    13/45
  • Model in a white gown and a futuristic metal mask walks with a suited escort at a high-fashion event under hanging white flowers.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    14/45
  • Person in an elaborate gold gown with a large ruffled collar posing for cameras at a red carpet event, photographers in the background
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    15/45
  • Woman in a pink evening gown walking on a runway lined with hedges at a fashion show, audience in the background watching the event
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    16/45
  • Male model in a studded brown leather outfit and cap posing on a fashion runway with cascading white flowers overhead.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    17/45
  • Joyful couple in formal attire walk hand in hand at a floral gala beneath cascading white blossoms above them.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    18/45
  • Model in a black blazer on a floral-covered runway while photographers line the left side of a fashion show.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    19/45
  • Model in a shimmering backless gown walks a runway beneath hanging white floral installations at a fashion show, with photographers in the background.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    20/45
  • Model wearing a bold black-and-white swirling-pattern outfit walks the runway while photographers and guests crowd around amid floral decor.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    21/45
  • Model in a pale pink lace-trim gown poses on a green carpet at a floral-walled fashion event, surrounded by photographers and fans.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    22/45
  • Man in a black tuxedo and bow tie holds hands with a smiling woman in a white feathered gown at a gala, photographers in the background.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    23/45
  • Three models pose on a fashion runway under hanging white flowers and green decor, photographers in the background.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    24/45
  • Model wearing a black satin ensemble and sunglasses poses on a runway beneath cascading white flowers at a fashion show.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    25/45
  • Two celebrities walk a floral red carpet, woman in a bronze lace gown raising her hand as photographers film around her
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    26/45
  • Man in a black suit walking on a green carpet at a formal event, photographers and a floral backdrop in the background
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    27/45
  • A glamorous woman in a black, sequined gown and a man in a tuxedo pose on a green-carpeted red carpet beneath cascading white flowers, with photographers in the background.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    28/45
  • Model wearing a shiny gold pantsuit and headband, standing beneath cascading white flowers at a fashion show runway.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    29/45
  • Couple posing on a staircase decorated with white flowers at a formal event; woman in a black blazer and cropped top, man in black attire with a beard.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    30/45
  • Man in a black tuxedo with bow tie posing on a green carpet at a gala, photographers and cameras in the background under hanging greenery.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    31/45
  • Model in a black gown walks the runway beneath hanging white flowers at a fashion show, with photographers along the sides.
    Photographed by Hunter Abrams
    32/45
  • Smiling woman in a blue-toned gown and gloves holds an orange cocktail beside a man in a tuxedo at a formal party.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    33/45
  • Smiling woman in a black evening gown poses against a wall of cascading white flowers, with a security guard in a dark uniform visible in the background.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    34/45
  • Man in a black suit and red bow tie holding a large open book or award on a lush, floral backdrop while photographers capture the moment.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    35/45
  • Woman in a black lace dress stands among formally dressed guests at an event, with hanging white flowers overhead.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    36/45
  • Backstage at a fashion show with guests and models mingling; a blonde woman wears a bright multicolored feathered headpiece against a floral backdrop while others in formalwear surround her.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    37/45
  • Smiling couple dancing at a formal event; woman in a mustard yellow ribbed dress with a green necklace, man in a tux, motion blur around them.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    38/45
  • Back view of a model wearing a shimmering red-gold brocade ball gown with off-the-shoulder sleeves on a fashion runway
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    39/45
  • Celebrities posing on a green-carpeted red carpet with photographers and a hanging floral ceiling in the background.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    40/45
  • Woman in a black off-shoulder gown with silver claw-like prosthetic gloves, holding a champagne flute and wearing a diamond necklace.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    41/45
  • Person wearing an intricate cage-like dress with braided back, standing on a runway as onlookers watch in a decorated hallway with an exit sign above.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    42/45
  • Smiling woman in a silver satin gown walking on a floral runway with cascading white blossoms overhead.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    43/45
  • Fashion photoshoot of a topless woman wearing a light blue draped skirt, with metallic silver hands covering her chest and decorative makeup in a lush setting.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    44/45
  • Model in a shiny gold suit walks down green carpeted steps at a floral-backed fashion event, crowd taking photos nearby.
    Photographed by Sinna Nasseri
    45/45

This article was originally published on Vogue.com. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The 2026 Met Gala theme was “Fashion is Art,” aligning with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition exploring fashion, human expression, and the physical body.

The official co-chairs for the 2026 Met Gala were Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams, who led the high-profile cultural event at the Metropolitan Museum.

The 2026 Met Gala exhibition is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, anchoring the museum’s annual fashion fundraising benefit event.

The 2026 Met Gala exhibition is officially titled “Costume Art,” a showcase dedicated to analyzing how modern style intersects closely with fine art and human anatomy.

This exclusive 2026 Met Gala coverage was originally published on Vogue.com, serving as an authoritative source for the fashion industry’s most anticipated formal red carpet event.

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Emma Specter

Author

Emma Specter is a culture writer at Vogue. Previously, she worked at GARAFE AND LAist, and has freelanced for The Hairpin, Bon Appetit, them, and the Hollywood Reporter.

See more stories by Emma Specter
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