Fashion’s biggest night delivered exactly the kind of theatrics fans hoped for. At the 2026 Met Gala on May 4, 2026, co-chairs Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman didn’t just stop traffic on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City — they pulled off a one-two style punch by changing into entirely new ensembles once the doors closed behind them.
This year’s dress code, “Fashion Is Art,” set the stage for the “Costume Art” theme, and the co-chairs took the assignment to heart. Joining Beyoncé and Kidman in the chair lineup was tennis great Venus Williams, who held her ground in a single (and stunning) custom Swarovski look for the entire evening.
Beyoncé’s Skeleton-To-Sequins Switcheroo
Beyoncé arrived flanked by husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy Carter, making her grand entrance in a custom Olivier Rousteing nude gown encrusted with a dazzling diamond skeleton down the front. She finished the look with a sparkling headpiece and a feathered train that practically demanded its own zip code.
Once inside the Met, the Grammy winner pivoted into something equally jaw-dropping: a crystal-encrusted custom Robert Wun Couture number featuring a dramatic mermaid skirt and a matching veil. The shimmering black and gold gown sealed the deal as she stepped out in front of the Temple of Dendur to greet guests alongside her fellow co-chairs.
It was the kind of dual-look moment that practically dares the rest of the carpet to keep up. You can see all the outfit details from both stars’ transformations.
Kidman Brings Out The Chanel
Kidman, a Chanel ambassador, made the most of the night with a pair of head-turning gowns. She kicked things off in a red sequined and feathered custom Chanel gown on arrival, opening the carpet alongside Anna Wintour and honorary co-chair Lauren Sanchez Bezos.
The “Babygirl” actress was joined on the carpet by her 17-year-old daughter Sunday Rose, whom she shares with husband Keith Urban. Kidman also showed off her longest hairdo in recent years, with blonde tresses cascading down her back.
For her second act inside the gala, Kidman swapped into a pink-and-white Chanel look with feathers perched on her shoulders, featuring florals and feathers throughout. The Oscar winner kept things firmly in the Chanel family for both moments — a fitting nod given her ambassador role.
Venus Williams Makes A Statement
While her co-chairs played dress-up in stages, Williams stuck with one show-stopping custom Swarovski gown — and she had a very good reason. The tennis pro stunned in a black mermaid gown covered in diamonds, accessorized with a diamond-encrusted neck piece.
But the real headline lived in her ears. “I’m wearing my earrings that say six percent, and representing Gatorade and this project where we’re talking about how women only get six percent of the research in sports science,” Williams said.
“Can you imagine? So tonight’s a special night for that,” she added — turning a fashion moment into an advocacy moment without missing a beat.
Inside The Party Of The Year
The invite-only soirée delivered the kind of star-studded scenes that only the Met can engineer. Rihanna mingled with Heidi Klum and A$AP Rocky, while all four members of BLACKPINK — LISA, JENNIE, Rosé and Jisoo — paused the festivities long enough to snap a now-iconic bathroom mirror selfie inside the museum.
Olivia Wilde shared a moment with Katy Perry, while Russell Wilson planted a smooch on wife Ciara. Tate McRae hit the dance floor with Rosé and Connor Storrie, and in one of the night’s most memorable musical moments, Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Nicks held hands for a stirring performance inside the gala.
Elsewhere, Kendall Jenner toured the fashion exhibit, Blake Lively and Anne Hathaway looked every bit the part of real-life princesses, and Zoe Kravitz huddled with Lily-Rose Depp and Gracie Abrams for what looked suspiciously like the night’s juiciest gossip session. Teyana Taylor caught up with Storrie, while Kris Jenner, Stella McCartney, Chase Sui Wonders, Maya Hawke, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Hailey Bieber and Rachel Sennott all rounded out the guest list.
Between the costume changes, the candid moments and the headline-making accessories, the 2026 edition more than lived up to its “Costume Art” billing. As far as fashion’s biggest night goes, the co-chairs set a high bar — and then, in Beyoncé and Kidman’s case, gleefully cleared it twice.