The Biggest Trends From the 2026 Met Gala
For better or worse.
The 2026 Met Gala is here, and celebs have dutifully descended upon the museum’s beige carpet in a sea of vaguely art-inspired attire. ICYMI, the theme this year is Fashion is Art, inspired by the Costume Institute’s exhibition “Costume Art,” which tracks the relationship between clothes, the body and various historical artifacts. Unlike previous years, the rather vague prompt is ripe for... a wide range of interpretations.
Still, certain trends have already crystallized. From surrealist naked dresses to freaky expressions of gore to tech-inspired couture, there is a lot to unpack. Behold, the greatest trends of fashion’s biggest night.
Body horror
If you’re squeamish, look away. A select few ensembles have leaned into the off-kilter aspects of decorative self-adornment. Naomi Osaka’s Robert Wun ensemble delivered aestheticized anatomy with a pristine white overcoat that she removed to reveal a red, organ-outlining gown. The outfit-changing performance, dubbed "shedding of the skin,” was made all the more realistic by her fingers, which were dyed red and reminiscent of blood. Jordan Roth veered into similarly terrifying territory, also in Robert Wun, wearing a gown with a figure unsettlingly emerging from his back.
On an ultra-morose note, Lena Dunham’s sequin-filled feather-y frock was inspired by the splattering of blood in the Baroque oil painting Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi. On the bright side, it’s custom Valentino!
Good form
photo Via getty
The naked dress has permeated red carpets for decades, meaning it’s no longer necessarily a provocative (or even noteworthy) choice. But at the 2026 Met Gala, designers took the body-exposing silhouette to new, more imaginative heights. Kylie Jenner’s custom Schiaparelli gown featured a skin-tight corset bodice with built-in nude nipples. Her sister Kendall had a similar vision, showing off an intentional nip-slip in Gap Studio by Zac Pozen. Their other sister Kim Kardashian gave the oeuvre a sturdier spin, sporting a rust-coloured breastplate by Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem.
Throughout the night, several naked dresses took increasingly imaginative turns. Jewellery designer Sabine Getty’s couture Ashi Studio dress appeared melted on, with a nude body painted in exacting detail. On the other end of extremes, Heidi Klum channeled the body-clinging, wet-draping look by cosplaying a literal statue. Her head-to-toe prosthetics felt a little Halloween-esque, but coming from a woman who once turned herself into a worm, we’d expect nothing less.
Plugged in
photo via getty
Is technology a form of art? These guests would argue yes. Janelle Monáe merged nature with hardware in a custom Christian Siriano creation filled with greenery, 3D butterflies and rogue wires wrapped around her.
On a more dystopian note, Katy Perry emerged in a white column dress with a silver, martian-like mask obscuring her face. In her defence, the star has become intimately familiar with space in recent months, but this feels like a slightly post-apocalyptic vision for the future. Look no further than her burnt train. Meanwhile, Nichapat Suphap went full robot mode, wearing a Robert Wun dress adorned in silver hands with automated fingers, tapping on her body as she walked up the steps.
Leather weather
There’s something classically cool about a leather jacket. And on the red carpet? Swapping a traditional tux for the laid-back vintage-y blazer is a low-effort way to stand out. At the 2026 Met Gala, a few menswear stars went this route. Damson Idris donned a long black Tommy Hilfiger trench. Luke Evans referenced iconic Finnish artist Tom of Finland in a chocolate brown set. And Patrick Schwarzenegger opted for a cropped version, which she accessorized with a cane and a dapper cocktail ring.
Flying high
There was a very avian vibe going on at the 2026 Met Gala red carpet. Beyoncé—a co-chair this year—arrived in a cape adorned with frilly feathers. Her fellow co-chair, Nicole Kidman, was also dressed in statement-making plumage, while Anna Wintour opted for a turquoise take on the frothy silhouette.
Meanwhile, Julianne Moore proved the dramatic look can be equally understated, wearing a dark wrap festooned in feathers. Your typical boas, these are not.
Florals for spring
It seems that every year, foliage makes its way onto the Met steps, regardless of the theme. This year, however, garden-like imagery was right at home. Charli xcx paid homage to Van Gogh’s Irises in custom Saint Laurent. SZA evoked a bright yellow garden in an ornate ensemble that nodded to Oxum. Hunter Schafer’s Prada dress was affixed with sweet, subtle rosettes inspired by Gustav Klimt.
Natalie Michie is the Fashion & Features Editor at FASHION Magazine. With a pop culture obsession, she is passionate about exploring the relationship between fashion, internet trends and social issues. She has written for Elle Canada, CBC, Chatelaine and Toronto Life. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and over-analyzing movies on TikTok.
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