The world’s biggest names in entertainment, fashion, and sports lit up the red carpet on Monday at the annual Met Gala in New York City, USA, reaffirming the event’s status as the most glamorous night in global fashion.
Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the star-studded fundraiser drew A-list celebrities including Beyoncé, Madonna, and Nicole Kidman, who led a dazzling showcase of style inspired by this year’s theme, “Fashion is Art.”
The theme coincided with the Costume Institute’s latest exhibition, “Costume Art,” which explores the relationship between fashion and other artistic disciplines.
Beyoncé, serving as one of the event’s co-chairs and making her first appearance in a decade, made a dramatic late arrival in a striking bejeweled skeleton gown paired with a feathered coat and elaborate headpiece. She was accompanied by her husband, Jay-Z, and their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
Earlier in the evening, fellow co-chairs including tennis legend Venus Williams and Kidman set the tone for the night. Kidman appeared in a shimmering red gown by Chanel, while Williams wore a crystal-studded ensemble by Swarovski.
Music icons such as Cher and Stevie Nicks joined a new generation of stars including Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, and Tyla. Meanwhile, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky made a characteristically late but grand entrance.
Latin music superstar Bad Bunny drew attention with a bold transformation, reportedly using prosthetics and a white wig to depict an older version of himself.
Fashion heavyweights including Donatella Versace, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney, Anthony Vaccarello, and Haider Ackermann were also in attendance, alongside athletes such as Alysa Liu, Eileen Gu, and NFL star Russell Wilson.
Hollywood actress Blake Lively made a surprise appearance, shortly after resolving a legal dispute related to her film It Ends with Us with co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
The event continues to be overseen by Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue, who has led the gala for three decades.
Beyond the glamour, the Met Gala remains a major fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute. According to museum CEO Max Hollein, this year’s event raised a record $42 million, surpassing the previous year’s total.
The accompanying exhibition presents fashion alongside iconic artworks, placing designs by leading houses next to renowned pieces such as Irises and sculptures, highlighting the interplay between different forms of artistic expression.
Curator Andrew Bolton described the exhibition as an exploration of “equivalency between artworks,” emphasizing the absence of hierarchy between mediums such as sculpture, painting, and fashion, as well as between different representations of the human form.
