The 2026 red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute showcased the theme of “Costume Art” with a dress code emphasizing “Fashion is Art.” Despite the controversy surrounding the event’s billionaire backing, celebrities embraced the night as a display of fashion theater. Attendees drew inspiration from classical sculpture, iconic artworks, and centuries of visual culture to create stunning looks that reflected the exhibition’s exploration of the relationship between garments and art over 5,000 years.
Some highlights from the red carpet included Emma Chamberlain channeling Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch, Sabrina Carpenter donning a dress featuring film strips from the 1954 Audrey Hepburn movie “Sabrina,” Blackpink’s Lisa in a surreal ensemble inspired by traditional Thai dance, and many more captivating fashion statements that embodied the artistic themes of the night.
Noteworthy appearances included Heidi Klum as the Veiled Vestal, Beyoncé in an anatomical study-inspired outfit, Madonna as The Temptation of St. Anthony, Kendall Jenner as Winged Victory, Hailey Bieber paying homage to a 1969 collaboration between Yves Saint Laurent and sculptor Claude Lalanne, Bad Bunny as the aging body, Chase Infiniti as the Venus de Milo, Luke Evans as a Tom of Finland figure, Audrey Nuna in abstract expressionism, Angela Bassett as the Girl in a Pink Dress, Rachel Zegler as Lady Jane Grey, Cardi B as The Doll, Hunter Schafer as Gustav Klimt’s Mäda Primavesi, and Anok Yai as the Black Madonna.
Each celebrity’s outfit was a work of art inspired by historical or contemporary artistic representations, showcasing a unique blend of fashion and cultural references on the prestigious red carpet.