Main character energy: Stars who wore outrageous outfits at the 2026 Met Gala
Celebrities made sure to own the carpet at this year’s Met Gala 2026 with their bold and unconventional looks.
In line with the theme, “Fashion is Art,” which celebrates the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring 2026 exhibition, “Costume Art,” A-listers turned heads in eccentric ensembles during the affair on May 5 (Philippine Time).
This year’s event was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. Andrew Bolton explained that the exhibit explores the “centrality of the dressed body,” encouraging designers and celebrities to treat the body as a blank canvas.
“What connects every curatorial department and every gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body. It’s the common thread throughout the whole museum, which was the initial idea for the exhibition,” Bolton said, per Vogue.
The Met Gala is the one night where fashion people officially lose their minds, and we are absolutely here for it. If the clothes aren't confusing or borderline impossible to walk in, then they’re just playing it safe when they should be pushing the limits of creativity. Here are some of the most over-the-top, totally outrageous looks that are being talked about this year:
Cardi B
Cardi B turned heads with her custom Marc Jacobs ensemble, which featured exaggerated proportions—especially the oversized padded hips and sculptural neckline—covered in black lace.
Doechii
Rapper-singer Doechii delivered one of the most avant-garde looks of the night, wearing a Marc Jacobs ensemble with dramatic draping, a towering headpiece, and barefoot styling.
Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum always goes over the top with her Halloween costumes, so it's no surprise that she made it on this list. Never one to hold back—committed to the bit in a sculptural, Veiled Vestal sculpture look that made her almost statue-like. Per WWD, her look paid homage to the 1847 sculpture by Raffaelle Monti, the Veiled Vestal. Created in 1846, the sculpture portrays a Vestal Virgin, a sacred priestess in service of the Roman goddess Vesta.
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe made a striking appearance wearing a custom couture creation by designer Christian Siriano.
The singer-rapper stepped onto the red carpet in a full-length gown that fused natural and technological elements. The piece featured intertwined wiring and plant motifs throughout, creating a sculptural, hybrid aesthetic. There are also animated mechanical butterflies and dragonflies that were incorporated across the outfit, with one butterfly perched delicately on her head.
Katy Perry
MIKE COPPOLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
Singer Katy Perry complemented her plain, structured Stella McCartney white gown with a mask that is reminiscent of a fencing helmet as her headpiece. Some social media users on X said her look this year reminded them of a lost pair of AirPods.
Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner stepped out in a custom look by Schiaparelli Haute Couture, opting for a more pared-back take on the theme. The sleek, sculpted silhouette was designed with precise tailoring, while the off-shoulder construction created the illusion that the dress was subtly slipping off her frame.
Madonna
Madonna wore a custom design by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent. The ensemble featured a black satin-and-lace slip dress with a clean, elongated silhouette. Over it, she added a sheer, violet-toned cape that extended behind her, held by seven ladies. Per Vogue, it is inspired by the Surrealist female painter Leonora Carrington, who was also the inspiration for her classic Bedtime Story music video.
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde’s Thom Browne ensemble looked classic and simple, until a cage-like structure at the back added an unexpected detail. The look featured a black, form-fitting dress with a tulle train and a cage attached behind.
