Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Are Fashion’s Royal Couple at the 2026 Met Gala

From the moment the Met Gala red carpet opens each year, one question is on every diehard fashion lover’s lips: Will Rihanna, the queen of the Met Gala, show up?

Happily, the answer this year was yes: the superstar arrived in custom, sculptural Maison Margiela by Glenn Martens for the affair, tonight complete with an Art Deco-style headpiece. Drawing off the label’s Artisanal 2025 collection, the star donned its draped column silhouetteSilhouetteThe overall outline or shape of a garment or look, such as A-line, column, or hourglass. Silhouette defines the first visual impression of an outfit and is often the mostGo to Silhouette Glossary inspired by the medieval architecture of Flanders, a northern region of Belgium. (Martens is a Belgian designer.) The high-fashion moment was styled by Jahleel Weaver.

Photo: Getty Images

The striking gown—which was sculpted by hand—was made in duchess woven silk, with recycled metal threads that are typically used for computer wiring. The corseted bodice also features over 115,000 crystal beads, antique jewels, and chains. It took 1,380 hours for the embroideryEmbroideryThe decorative stitching of designs onto fabric by hand or machine, central to Philippine formalwear. Hand embroidery from places like Lumban in Laguna and Taal in Batangas adorns barongs, ternos,Go to Embroidery Glossary alone.

A$AP Rocky, meanwhile—sporting custom Chanel by Matthieu Blazy—was hot on her heels. The rapper donned a wool pink robe with black satin lapels and black piping details, embellished with a black silk and feather camélia. He paired it with black trousers and a white cotton shirt. 194 hours were required in the making of this look, finished off with Chanel’s High JewelryJewelryDecorative adornments worn on the body, from fine pieces in gold, diamonds, and pearls to fashion jewelry made of accessible materials. Jewelry completes an outfit and often holds sentimental orGo to Jewelry Glossary pieces.

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Of course, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have shut down their fair share of Met GalaGalaA formal fundraising or celebratory event known for black-tie dress, high-fashion red-carpet looks, and elaborate dinners. Galas let designers dress public figures in statement gowns and tuxedos, and they oftenGo to Gala Glossary red carpets over the years—and have made showing up late to the event a bit of a couple’s tradition. For “Superfine” in 2025, Rihanna revealed her third pregnancy in a custom Marc Jacobs, while Rocky—a co-chair for that year’s event—donned custom AWGE that paid homage to Harlem style.

In 2023, the couple also arrived late—at 10 p.m.—and saw Rihanna sport custom white Valentino, while Rocky sported a (fabulous) Gucci kilt. Other notable moments from Met Gala years past? Rihanna’s 2015 Guo Pei, her 2017 Comme des Garçons, and countless other moments. You’d might as well call them fashion’s royal couple of the Met.

Photo: Getty Images

This article was originally published on Vogue.com. 

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