Stars Turn Out for 2026 Met Gala 'Costume Art' Extravaganza
Celebrities and designers attended the 2026 Met Gala for the Costume Institute's 'Costume Art' exhibition; Joshua Henry opened the night with a Whitney Houston performance on the museum steps.
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Overview
Celebrities arrived at the 2026 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Joshua Henry opened the evening by performing "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" with dancers and a band.
The gala raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute and coincides with the museum's "Costume Art" exhibition, which opens to the public on May 10 in the Met's new Condé Nast gallery spaces.
Co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour led the guest list while honorary co-chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos attended and attendees showcased designs referencing art history.
Notable specifics included Beyoncé walking the carpet with her 14-year-old daughter Blue Ivy, Eileen Gu saying her Iris van Herpen dress features 15,000 glass bubbles and took 2,550 hours to make, and Aariana Rose Philip appearing as the first wheelchair user, according to Vogue.
The evening will continue with more red-carpet arrivals and updates as guests view the "Costume Art" exhibition and the gala serves as a showcase for fashion and spectacle.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Met Gala as celebratory spectacle by prioritizing glamorous descriptions, star-focused selection, and an upbeat, listlike structure. Editorial language (feathery confection, golden-voiced, luxurious) and emphasis on co-chairs and designers elevates prestige while omitting critical viewpoints (cost, labor, elitism). Quotes from attendees remain source content.