Met Gala 2026 best dressed: 14 of the 'Fashion is art' looks that stole the show

Fashion is often described as art, and rightly so, but the ambiguous 2026 Met Gala theme "Fashion is Art" certainly put A-listers to the test. Frankly, no one quite knew what to expect, with earlier snaps just hours before the event hinting that things might take an underwhelming turn.

But we spoke too soon.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art quickly became a moving exhibition of sculptural silhouettes, painterly references, and experimental craftsmanship.

As highlighted both on and offline, it was largely the women holding the creative effort on their backs (quite literally) with gowns packed full of detail, storytelling, and construction that took thousands of hours to bring to life.

Menswear, however, didn't quite land the brief in the same way. There were some standout moments, but overall, fewer looks that were fully committed to the concept and didn't go unnoticed.

Here are 14 of our favourite Met Gala looks from the night.

Karan Johar wearing Manish Malhotra

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar graced the Met Gala wearing a design inspired by the art of Raja Ravi Varma.

"Raja Ravi Varma felt right because his work does something I’ve always tried to do in cinema. He painted feelings," he shared. "And who better than my oldest partner in crime & fashion to help me bring this to life other than Manish Malhotra. To bring our Indian culture to the global stage with the vision of couture and gratitude woven together, is an art form in itself which he has mastered."

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Emma Chamberlain wearing Mugler

Marking her sixth time in attendance, Emma Chamberlain donned a hand-painted gown inspired by classical painting techniques.

Speaking about the Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas, she told Vogue ahead of the event: "There is sort of this watercolour feel, and I love watercolour painting. But then also there’s a creepy, sort of ominous undertone to the gown, like the way that it moves. And that is very much my taste in art."

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Eileen Gu wearing Iris van Herpen

The Olympic champion turned heads at the Met Gala with a sculptural mini dress. Crafted with 15,000 delicate glass bubbles, the piece required more than 2,500 hours of meticulous work.

But the real spectacle was the hidden technology embedded in the design that allowed actual bubbles to form around her as she moved.

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Kylie Jenner wearing Schiaparelli

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Jeremy Pope wearing Vivienne Westwood

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Lisa wearing Robert Wun

Lisa teamed up with Robert Wun, who had a string of hits at the Met Gala, in a sheer crystalised gown consisting of almost 70,000 Swarovski crystals.

It also featured a sculpted arm detail rising from the shoulder, creating an illusion of two different gestures.

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Beyoncé wearing Olivier Rousteing

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KUN wearing Thom Browne

"Well, the inspiration is coming from my new album, the title track is called 'Deadman,'" he told Teen Vogue. "I’m like bleeding right here," he added, pointing to his jacket.

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Sabine Getty wearing Ashi Studio

Jewellery designer Sabine Getty made a serious statement in a sheer Ashi Studio gown designed to resemble a nude painting, instantly sparking "iconic" social media reaction. She tied it all together with a jewel-encrusted finger detail, perfectly echoing the dress itself.

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Anok Yai wearing Balenciaga

"In the climate that we’re living in right now, we need hope," she told Vogue. "I feel like being the Black Madonna in a Trump world is going to send that message."

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Naomi Osaka wearing Robert Wun

Naomi Osaka arrived in not one, but two standout Robert Wun moments. She first stepped out in a dramatic white feathered coat, paired with a matching headpiece by Awon Golding. Later, she shed the outer layer to reveal a rich maroon dress underneath, completely transforming the look.

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Chase Infiniti wearing Thom Browne

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Nichapat Suphap wearing Robert Wun

Editor, entrepreneur, and founder of The Venture Management, Nichapat Suphap, made an entrance in a custom Robert Wun gown – but it was the innovation behind it that really stood out.

Collaborating with kinetic artist Casey Curran, the look featured sculptural metallic hands that actually moved around the dress, turning it into a dynamic, almost living piece.

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Zoë Kravitz wearing Yves Saint Laurent

Zoë Kravitz made her Met Gala return in a sleek black lace gown by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent with pockets.

On the carpet, fans couldn’t help but notice she kept her left hand out of sight in photos, fuelling ongoing speculation about a possible engagement to Harry Styles.

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