Met Gala 2026: Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Nicole Kidman and Rihanna dominate the red carpet

Ten years later, Beyoncé returned and took command of the evening with one of the edition’s most striking looks. Blue Ivy made her debut, Nicole Kidman upheld her trademark elegance, and Rihanna once again challenged convention on a red carpet where fashion asserted itself as both art and spectacle.

The Met Gala red carpet once again brought the worlds of fashion and pop culture to a standstill at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Under the theme "Fashion is Art", the 2026 edition reinforced the notion that clothing can function as sculpture, performance and storytelling, in a procession where every attendee sought to make their mark.

Beyoncé leads the Met Gala 2026 red carpet

The night’s defining moment belonged to Beyoncé. The artist returned to the Met Gala after a decade away, doing so as co-chair and immediately becoming the centre of attention. Created by Olivier Rousteing, her look paired a sheer crystal-covered bodysuit, arranged to create an optical skeleton effect, with a monumental feathered coat in shades of grey and blue, finished with a train of dramatic theatrical scale.

Beside her came another major moment: Blue Ivy Carter’s Met Gala red-carpet debut. Wearing a voluminous white gown with classical references, reworked with a bomber jacket and dark sunglasses, the young star projected confidence, balancing her media legacy with the development of her own identity.

Nicole Kidman, meanwhile, reaffirmed her standing as a byword for elegance in a structured, sophisticated Chanel gown of sequins and feathers. An unexpected fringe gave the ensemble a distinctly modern edge.

At the other end of the spectrum, Rihanna retained her place as one of the evening’s most unpredictable figures. In a conceptual, architectural look, she once more defied convention and underlined her position as one of the Met Gala’s most influential presences.

A red carpet filled with familiar faces and narratives

The 2026 edition welcomed celebrities who offered multiple interpretations of the theme. Cara Delevingne chose a black sheer gown with a flowing train, while Ashley Graham emphasised her silhouette in a structured mesh and tulle design.

Emma Chamberlain opened the red carpet in a colour-gradient dress, a contrast to Charli XCX’s minimalist approach. Zoë Kravitz and Sabrina Carpenter, meanwhile, strengthened the presence of a new creative generation.

Blake Lively and the Met Gala’s personal details

Blake Lively was also among the most talked-about appearances, returning in a vintage Versace gown reimagined with a long pastel-toned train. The most striking personal touch was her clutch, painted by her children, which brought an emotional dimension to her look.

With Anna Wintour leading the group of hosts, the Met Gala again confirmed its status as one of the most influential events on the international calendar.

The event remains a space in which fashion becomes a statement. In 2026, amid historic returns, symbolic debuts and bold choices, it became clear that every look is more than an image: it is a public position, identity and narrative.