Met Gala 2026: The Boldest 'Fashion Is Art' Looks from Beyoncé, SZA, and More

This year, the Met Gala's dress code was "Fashion Is Art," sparking a range of creative interpretations.

The 2026 Met Gala has concluded, showcasing a spectrum of styles on its carpet (which, notably, wasn't red). Before anticipation builds for next year's theme, let's dissect some of the most captivating ensembles from Monday, May 4th.

Under the guidance of co-chairs Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Anna Wintour, and Beyoncé, who marked her return to the annual event after a decade, the 2026 Met Gala spotlighted the fusion of fashion and art. It perfectly complemented the Met’s Costume Institute’s spring exhibition “Costume Art,” which celebrates the diversity of the human form.

The Met's website describes the exhibit as showcasing pairings between fashions and artworks, presenting a spectrum of connections and experiences, from the formal to the conceptual, aesthetic to the political, individual to the universal, illustrative to the symbolic, and playful to the profound.

The "Fashion Is Art" theme offered expansive creative latitude, resulting in attendees experimenting with color, texture, references, and inspiration. The result? A series of unique looks. While not every look achieved iconic status, several red carpet moments proved unforgettable. Here are Billboard's top picks from musicians at the 2026 Met Gala:

From SZA’s upcycled couture to Bad Bunny’s senior citizen cosplay and Beyoncé’s return, here are some of Billboard's top looks.

• Lisa

  <figure>
  	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lisa-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lisa-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=300,232 300w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lisa-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=300" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lisa-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lisa-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=300,232 300w" alt='Lisa at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lisa-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=300" height="232" width="300" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
  			Image Credit: Gilbert Flores			</figcaption>
  		</figure>
  
  

  Lisa at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.

• SZA

  <figure>
  	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sza-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sza-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sza-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sza-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sza-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='SZA at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sza-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
  			Image Credit: Michael Buckner			</figcaption>
  		</figure>
  
  

  SZA at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.

• Sam Smith

  <figure>
  	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sam-smith-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sam-smith-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sam-smith-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sam-smith-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sam-smith-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='Sam Smith at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sam-smith-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
  			Image Credit: Gilbert Flores			</figcaption>
  		</figure>
  
  

  Sam Smith at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.

• Sabrina Carpenter

  <figure>
  	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sabrina-carpenter-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sabrina-carpenter-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sabrina-carpenter-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sabrina-carpenter-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sabrina-carpenter-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='Sabrina Carpenter at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sabrina-carpenter-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
  			Image Credit: Gilbert Flores			</figcaption>
  		</figure>
  
  

  Sabrina Carpenter at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.

• Janelle Monáe

  <figure>
  	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2274533438.jpg?w=2048 3394w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2274533438.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2274533438.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2274533438.jpg?w=2048 3394w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2274533438.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Janelle Mon&aacute;e attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2274533438.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
  

			Image Credit: Getty Images			</figcaption>
		</figure>

Janelle Monáe attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City.

<figure>
	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/doechii-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/doechii-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/doechii-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/doechii-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/doechii-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='Doechii at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/doechii-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
			Image Credit: Gilbert Flores			</figcaption>
		</figure>

<figure>
	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/gracie-abrams-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/gracie-abrams-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/gracie-abrams-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/gracie-abrams-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/gracie-abrams-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='Gracie Abrams at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/gracie-abrams-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
			Image Credit: Gilbert Flores			</figcaption>
		</figure>

<figure>
	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1800w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=681,454 681w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=300" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1800w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=681,454 681w" alt='Madonna at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/madonna-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=300" height="200" width="300" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
			Image Credit: Gilbert Flores			</figcaption>
		</figure>

<figure>
	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beyonce-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beyonce-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beyonce-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beyonce-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beyonce-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='Beyonc&eacute; at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/beyonce-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
			Image Credit: Michael Buckner			</figcaption>
		</figure>

<figure>
	<img data-lazy-srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bad-bunny-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bad-bunny-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" data-lazy-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bad-bunny-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" data-old-src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/themes/vip/pmc-billboard-2021/assets/public/lazyload-fallback.gif" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 100vw" srcset="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bad-bunny-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg 1200w, https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bad-bunny-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?resize=200,300 200w" alt='Bad Bunny at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York.' src="https://www.billboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bad-bunny-met-gala-2026-billboard-1200.jpg?w=200" height="300" width="200" decoding="async">			<figcaption>
			Image Credit: Gilbert Flores			</figcaption>
		</figure>

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