A recap of the “best” and “most” red carpet moments at the 2026 Met Gala, according to No Manners’ editors.
The Met Gala came and went in a blur of extravagance. This year, the event commemorated the opening of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Costume Art,” dedicated to the relation between body and clothing. The red carpet teemed with fashion and activity, as guests explored the theme and corresponding dress code, “Fashion is Art,” with various degrees of success.
Though fashion’s most anticipated event has officially come to a close, we’re still thinking about the night’s most creative, irreverent, intellectual and relevant looks.
Below, relive highlights from the “Costume Art“ 2026 Met Gala red carpet through the eyes of our editorial team.
The Most Retro
Ahn Hyoseop’s Take on Disco Style
Canadian actor Ahn Hyoseop has been the go-to leading man in Korean dramas for the past decade. From romantic comedies to medical dramas, the actor has done it all—and has the awards to prove it. Last year, Ahn expanded his resume, lending his voice to Netflix’s animated musical Kpop Demon Hunters, where he brought to life demon heartthrob Jinu.
For his Met Gala debut, Ahn sported a custom Valentino outfit. His look consisted of a champagne satin button-down, oversized black slacks and a glittering pin-striped blazer. Bringing back a ‘70s fashion staple, the actor also layered a thin red scarf—the kind you’d expect to see in the heyday of the disco era. Between the flamboyant scarf and his jacket’s oversized shoulder pads, Ahn created a memorable retro-infused look.
The Most Abstract (and Cellular)
Alysa Liu and the Cell Dress
Alysa Liu demonstrated her figure skating prowess at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games. In the brief time since, the athlete has become a fashion and cultural force. Liu has attended several fashion industry events and ahead of her Met Gala debut, she was announced as an ambassador for Louis Vuitton.
Taking the Met exhibition literally, the skater staged a grand red carpet appearance inspired by the very basis of the human body: the cell. The “dissected” dress mirrored the “muscle striation, veins, the interior of a cell” through voluminous ruffles in a high-low skirt that played on the trend’s 2025 revival. Elevating the look, Liu paired the dress with red satin pumps and a diamond and ruby choker by Pasquale Bruni. She also wore her signature halo hair in soft waves with some pieces in the front.
The Most Insightful and Intellectual
Bad Bunny’s Aged Body
Puerto Rican sensation Bad Bunny showed up and showed out at the Met Gala 2026. Unlike fellow attendants, the singer looked deep into the Costume Institute’s exhibition for inspiration. The result?A direct response to the “Aging Body” section in the “Costume Art” exhibition.
Bad Bunny surprised global audiences with an aged version of himself, created with the help of prosthetic makeup artist Mike Marino. “Every wrinkle, line and detail was hand-sculpted after a deep conversation between Marino and Benito about how the passage of time may actually affect his face, neck and hands,” shared the artist’s team in a press release. The idea was to confront identity, time and the natural aging process in Benito’s own terms — a deep and introspective take on this year’s theme.
As for fashion, the “DtMF” singer kept things classy with a self-designed black suit, manufactured by Zara. The outfit featured a custom black shirt and an oversized sculptural bow, as a “deliberate reference” to the iconic Charles James 1947 “Bustle” piece, showcased at the Costume Institute.
Best Color Display
Chase Infiniti’s Venus de Milo Dress
Another star taking a literal approach to her outfit was Chase Infiniti. The actress wore a refreshingly colorful gown by Thom Browne that depicted the female body with a trompe l’oeil technique. Infiniti’s look was embroidered with pops of vibrant color and featured tiered silk fringes in over 600 different colors. Observing the theme, the design found inspiration in the Venus de Milo, one of the most researched and referenced artworks in the study of art and anatomy.
ICYMI, Chase Infiniti is an Indianapolis-born actress who rose to prominence for her role in last year’s Oscar-winning One Battle After Another. More recently, Infiniti joined the cast of Hulu’s new drama series The Testaments.
The (Most) Effortessly On-Theme
Connor Storrie’s Greek Sculpture Stature
Connor Storrie has skyrocketed to fame with his breakout role in the Canadian sports drama series Heated Rivalry (2025). During his rapid come-up, the actor has debuted at multiple stages in fashion and entertainment, including the Golden Globe Awards, Saturday Night Live (SNL), Paris Fashion Week and now the Met Gala.
For the highly anticipated event, Storrie stepped out in an arm-baring Saint Laurent look by Anthony Vaccarello. The star entered the venue wearing a double-breasted jacket. However, it was eventually shed to reveal a polka-dot halter blouse courtesy of the French fashion brand.
On a night meant to focus on the relationship between body and clothing as an art form, the clean silhouette and Storrie’s posture, which often draws comparisons to Ancient art and Greek sculptures, felt like a welcome departure from no-context art references that missed the mark on the red carpet.
The Most Tech-Driven
Eileen Gu’s Bubble Glass Look
Olympic champion Eileen Gu turned heads with a dazzling mini-dress. The deceptively simple one-piece was decorated with bubble-shaped glass ornaments that created an iridescent lighting effect and released bubbles as she walked down the carpet. Designed by Iris Van Harpen, the dress was inspired by the atomic anatomy of the human body and was made up of 99.9% empty space.
Van Harpen explained that Gu’s dress carried microprocessors that released pressured gas and bubbles with tech designed to operate via a digital interface. The system was designed to operate autonomously, in collaboration with artist duo A.A. Murakami, authors of the Floating World immersive exhibition.
This wasn’t Gu’s first rodeo at the Met. The Olympic medalist attended her first Met Gala in 2021 with Victoria’s Secret and has become a regular guest in the years since. In addition to being the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, Gu is a student at Stanford University and model signed to IMG.
The Most Artful
Emma Chamberlain’s Canvas Gown
Through changing exhibitions and dress codes, Emma Chamberlain has been a consistent part of the Met Gala experience. This year, Chamberlain continued her successful streak, offering a glamorous take on the night’s theme in a custom Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas gown that reportedly draws inspiration from her father’s work with painting.
Complete with hand-painting from artist Anna Deller-Yee, the dress’ semi-sheer panelling creates the illusion that Chamberlain’s body, rather than the fabric, acts as the canvas.
Emma Chamberlain is a content creator and owner of the Chamberlain Coffee brand who recently made her silver screen debut in Forbidden Fruits.
The Most Unconventional (In the Best Possible Way)
Hudson Williams’ Matador Outfit
Korean Canadian actor Hudson Williams, best known for his portrayal of Shane Hollander in the streaming adaptation of Heated Rivalry (2025), wowed audiences with his unconventional and elaborate Met Gala debut.
The Vancouver-native first surprised bystanders outside the Mark Hotel, walking out of the hotel in nothing but a plain bathrobe. The actor later arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a vintage-inspired matador look by Balenciaga, inspired by the iconic 1947 Bolero jacket. To abide by the theme of the human body, costume and art, Williams left the shirt and jacket open, offering a glimpse at his toned upper half.
Adding to the virality of the moment, Williams topped off the look with asymmetrical smoky eyes, reportedly inspired by the 2010 office box success Black Swan. Informed by themes of transformation, body movement (bullfighting) and traditional costume, this look will definitely be remembered as one of the most eclectic and reference-packed looks in Met Gala history.
The Best Column Dress
Jennie’s Chanel Mosaic
South Korean singer Jennie returned to the Met Gala for her fourth consecutive year, in an art-infused strapless gown. The star has become a regular at the event, previously opting for custom Alaïa and Chanel outfits, so fans and insiders were speculative about Jennie’s 2026 pick.
Jennie didn’t disappoint. The star and stylist Sam Woolf kept things classic with a column dress by Chanel. The piece was covered in 15,000 sequins across the blue color spectrum, creating a mosaic art effect. For the trained eye, however, the dress also carried similarities to the pointillism technique present in neo-impressionist artworks. Jennie accessorized with earrings and rings from Chanel High Jewelry.
The Most Korean-Inspired
Karina’s Homage to her Roots
K-pop star Karina climbed the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time in a custom Prada look. Since becoming an ambassador for the brand in 2024, the K-pop star has had a triumphant run in the fashion industry. At the most recent Milan Fashion Week, Karina was responsible for the top placement for the brand: an Instagram post valued at $1.7 million in MIV (Media Impact Value), so her debut at the event was just a matter of time.
Departing from literal interpretations of the theme, Karina’s outfit referenced the Hanbok (Korean traditional clothes). The chima (Korean traditional skirt) informed the white voluminous dress, while the contrasting black cape borrowed elements from Jeogori and Durumagi. In yet another reference to traditional Korean clothing, Karina sported her hair in a bun inspired by the jjok-meori, a hairstyle popularized during the Joseon dynasty.
The Best Ambassador Debut
NingNing and Gucci
NingNing, member of the four-member K-pop girl group aespa, was among the list of Met Gala debutants. The singer’s presence at the event not only marked her Met debut but also her first public appearance as a Gucci brand ambassador, announced on April 30.
Celebrating the new partnership, NingNing wore a black structural dress with 3D construction and sequined details. Along with NingNing’s signature sultry makeup, the dress’s glittery material and organic shape created a memorable debut we’ll be thinking about for days.
The Best Headpiece
Yseult’s take on “Costume Art”
French artist Yseult entered the Met Gala circuit with a bang. The star turned heads as a first-time host committee member, dressed in a Harris Reed Demi-Couture look. Yseult, singer, model and actress, known for artistic expression and commitment to body diversity advocacy, went all out with a look that combined soft tailoring with beadwork.
The gown, accentuated by a gold beaded breastplate, was topped off with a dramatic headpiece that elevated Yseult’s artful approach to fashion.
The Most Cinematic (Literally)
Sabrina Carpenter’s Film Dress
For her look, Sabrina Carpenter worked with Dior to create a gown out of film strips and tulle. Inspired by the 1954 film Sabrina, Carpenter channeled Old Hollywood glamour with a touch of her signature flair. Every element of the outfit was eye-catching, but the faux diamond headpiece—with matching earrings—was a statement in and of itself.
Carpenter, who you might recognize for viral hits like “Espresso” and “Feather,” served as a member of the host committee this year, asserting her place as one of pop culture’s biggest fashion icons.
The Best Archival Jewelry
Jisoo Wearing Century-Old Cartier Pieces
Singer, actor, luxury brand ambassador… you name it, Jisoo, is in no way a new face in the fashion industry. This year, however, the pop star unlocked a new feat with her Met Gala debut. As expected from a Dior and Cartier ambassador, the look lived up to expectations.
Jisoo climbed the iconic steps of the Met in a custom Dior by Jonathan Anderson strapless dress. The column dress, which featured a peplum, was draped in gazar and entirely embroidered with a garden scene and trimmed with floral bouquets. La pièce de résistance of Jisoo’s look, however, was the jewelry: a 1905 Cartier choker paired with earrings from the 1948 Cartier Collection Foliate.
With exquisite styling covering the fashion, beauty and jewelry fronts, Jisoo looked as if she had stepped out of a fairy tale.
The Best Tailoring
Cai Xukun’s Easter Egg Look
Chinese idol Cai Xukun, known by the mononym KUN, made his sophomore appearance at the Met Gala wearing Thom Browne. KUN’s sharp ensemble, which featured prominent red sequins mimicking the circulatory system, was a reference to his 2025 single “Deadman.” KUN kept his accessories straightforward: one bold red contact lens, mismatched motorcycle gloves (coordinated with his suit jacket, of course) and studs.
KUN is a singer-songwriter and actor who made his on-screen debut over 10 years ago in the Chinese drama Fairytale (2012). The multi-hyphenate skyrocketed in fame when he competed on Idol Producer in 2018. Since then, KUN has continued to pursue both acting and music; most recently, the singer released a series of singles in 2025, including the aforementioned “Deadman.”
