Beyonce, Rihanna and Katy Perry turn heads at this year's Met Gala

The most talked-about looks at this year's Met Gala

It's described as the biggest night in fashion.

Celebrities arrived at the 2026 Met Gala with their take on this year's theme - costume art - where organisers asked attendees to experiment with the lavish and whimsical dress code.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, and serves as chance for celebrities and design houses to go all-out on spectacle.

The golden-voiced Broadway star Joshua Henry, took the drama up a notch by opening the carpet with a rendition of I Wanna Dance With Somebody with a band and dancers on the Met's iconic steps, which were outfitted to look like mossy bricks in a lush garden.

The guest list was especially starry this year, with the event's co-chairs including singer Beyoncé, actress Nicole Kidman, tennis star Venus Williams, and global editorial director of Vogue Anna Wintour.

A parade of celebrities, including Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Naomi Osaka and Angela Bassett posed for the cameras.

Some famous faces - Bad Bunny, Heidi Klum, and Katy Perry - were nearly unrecognisable thanks to their commitment to the theme, with several stars directly referencing famous artists or artworks with their outfits.

Here's a look at some of the highlights and most talked-about looks, with additional reporting by Nada Tawfik on the red carpet.

Beyoncé takes over the carpet with her famous family

Beyoncé made her first Met Gala appearance in 10 years, and to make up for lost time she sported a monumental look.

The creation, by French designer Olivier Rousteing, took on the Gala's theme with a gown with an embellished skeleton design, and added a giant feathered cape.

The BBC caught up with Beyonce on the carpet. Asked how it felt to be back, the star said, "It feels great to be here with my daughter and husband".

The star took to the carpet with husband, rapper Jay-Z, and her daughter, Blue Ivy, who at 14 years old was one of the youngest guests. The Gala typically only allows guests who are 18 or older.

Rihanna arrives fashionably late, A$AP Rocky in tow

As has become almost tradition, the musical and fashionable power couple closed down the Met Gala carpet, arriving virtually after everyone.

Rihanna donned a custom Maison Margiela by Glenn Martens gown encrusted with thousands of jewels and beads. A$AP Rocky, who co-chaired last year's Gala, arrived in custom Chanel. He donned a pink coat with black satin lapels.

Anna Wintour's feathery confection

Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of Vogue magazine, wore a feathery custom Chanel confection to her signature event.

It marked her first Gala since stepping down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue. She has co-chaired the event nearly every year since 1995.

Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman goes red

Actress and event co-chair Nicole Kidman donned a red, long-sleeved beaded column gown by Chanel. She attended with her daughter, Sunday Rose.

Venus Williams' sparkling accessories

American tennis star Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon winner, also co-chaired the event. She wore a black sparkling gown with a luxurious silver, jewel-encrusted neck adornment.

She let out a cheer when the BBC asked her how it felt to co-chair the gala. "I'm dancing inside," she said.

Serena Williams shines in silver

The other Williams sister, Serena, wore a silver Marc Jacobs creation that echoed the classical art on display in the museum.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos channels "Madame X"

Lauren Sánchez Bezos, the wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is an honorary chair at this year's gala.

Her Schiaparelli gown invokes one of the most famous (and scandalous) dresses in art history: the gown portrayed in John Singer Sargent's "Madame X".

Broadway star Joshua Henry puts on a show

"Ragtime" star Joshua Henry didn't just attend the red carpet. He opened the evening with a performance of Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody, accompanied by dancers and a band.

Colman Domingo's suit pops against the carpet

Domingo isn't afraid to take big fashion swings, and this unusual suit has costume elements while remaining sleek.

Yes, that is Heidi Klum

The supermodel took her penchant for extravagant Halloween costumes to the Met Gala, where she dressed as one of the many marble statues gracing the museum's halls.

Is that you Bad Bunny...?

Bad Bunny followed in Klum's footsteps with another very costumey look. The 32-year-old singer wore makeup that made him look like an old man. But a very dapper old man, regardless.

Angela Bassett reigns over the carpet

Bassett wore a pink gown designed by Prabal Gurung that was inspired by a Harlem Renaissance painting, "Girl in a Pink Dress" by Laura Wheeler Waring.

She told the BBC that fashion was integral to getting into character.

Emma Chamberlain's painting-inspired gown

Influencer Emma Chamberlian wore a multi-colored gown, courtesy of Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas, that resembles a painting.

Model and activist Aariana Rose Philip makes historic Gala debut

Philip is the first wheelchair user to attend the Met Gala, according to Vogue magazine.

"For so long, disabled people were not represented anywhere," Philip told Vogue. "The thought of even being able to exist at an event like this... nobody even went there. To go from that to now, somehow finding myself there - I can't say how blessed and honored I feel attending."

Teyana Taylor shimmers and shimmies

Teyana Taylor brought her fringed dress to life by dancing on the carpet.

Manish Malhotra's sculptured shoulders

Famed Indian designer Manish Malhotra paired a bandhgala with an almost impossibly ornate cape. The cape's design is a tribute to Mumbai, which took a team of 50 artisans 960-hours to make.

Karan Johar's cape tells its own story

The Bollywood director also wore a design by his friend Manish Malhotra.

It consisted of a vintage jacket under a hand-painted cape with detailed embroidery. Johar's team described the paintings featured on his outfit as characters from Indian mythology.

Johar told the BBC that fashion was a massive part of his movies, which have been cemented as some of the most iconic in modern Bollywood. He added that the day had him feeling emotional.

Cara Delevingne's gown saves its drama for the back

Delevingne's Ralph Lauren gown seemed simple from the front. But when she turned around, the dramatic sheer details had a vivid effect on the Met stairs.

Chase Sui Wonders' soothing lavender

Actress Chase Sui Wonders dripped with diamonds in a pale lavender dress.

Lena Dunham returns to the Met

Lena Dunham, creator of the HBO show "Girls", wore a vivid Valentino red dress made out of feathers and sequins.

She told Vogue that her dress was inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi's Renaissance-era painting, "Judith Slaying Holofernes" - specifically, the blood spraying from the Assyrian general's neck.

Charli XCX chooses black over 'Brat'

The carpet might featured hues of green, but Charli XCX opted against her signature color for a sophisticated Saint Laurent black gown with a floral embellishment on the front.

Doja Cat's classic draping comes with a twist

Doja Cat wears a classically Grecian Saint Laurent dress in an unconventional fabric: silicone.

Sinéad Burke's corset-inspired dress

Activist, writer, public speaker Sinéad Burke made her return to the Met Gala in a black corseted gown with flowing sleeve embellishments.

Naomi Osaka's surprise reveal

Tennis Grand Slam champ Naomi Osaka, who arrived in white and red Robert Wun, had not one but two looks. She took off her white coat to reveal a second outfit, this time a deep maroon dress with a lace-up back.

Katy Perry's feeling reflective

Trust us: This is Katy Perry. The pop star's unique, and somewhat eerie mirrored mask obscured her face. But don't worry, it opens!

Connor Storrie heats up the green carpet

Connor Storrie, one of the stars of smash hit series Heated Rivalry, walked the carpet in daring menswear by Saint Laurent.

Hudson Williams' bold makeup

Meanwhile, Storrie's co-star Hudson Williams' opted for a matador-esque suit from Balenciaga.

But the real star of his look was his makeup, which Williams said was inspired by the movie "Black Swan."

Unknown actors six months ago, the ice hockey romance made by small Canadian streamer Crave has made Storrie and Williams two of the most sought-after new stars.

Lisa's many hands

Lisa, a member of the K-Pop group Blackpink, wears a white Robert Wun gown with an interesting illusion: mannequin arms hold up a white veil, while her real arms are free to pose.

Rosé's artsy embellishment

Zoë Kravitz makes use of her pockets

Zoë Kravitz wore a black lace Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello gown. But the actress frequently posed with her hand in her pocket, amid rumours of an engagement to pop star Harry Styles.

Sabrina Carpenter brings Hollywood glamour - literally

Sam Smith's extravagant headpiece

Hunter Schafer's euphoric dress

Stevie Nicks swaggers into the Met

The rock icon swept the Met Gala stairs in a voluminous black gown with a top hat.

Cher makes us Believe

Perhaps in tribute to Nicks' "Leather and Lace", another notable diva, Cher, wore a black dress with a jacket that felt both elegant and tough.

Madonna sails into the Met Gala

The winds must have blown favorably to bring Madonna to the Met Gala. Her nautical-witch look featured a headpiece shaped like a tall ship, an ethereal grey veil, and an entourage of models to help guide it down the carpet.

Kim Kardashian channels a superhero

The businesswoman and reality star said that British design duo Whitaker Malem made her orange bodice dress.

Kylie Jenner's "falling" dress

Businesswoman and reality star Kylie Jenner's Schiaparelli dress at first appeared to be falling off her. But a cleverly designed nude bodice held the entire look together.

Kendall Jenner echoes her sister

Model Kendall Jenner arrived in a dress that thematically rhymed with her sister Kylie's, this time by Zac Posen for GAP.

This didn't escape the attention of reporters on the carpet, asking Kendall if the two got ready together.

Sarah Paulson and her dollar mask

Actress Sarah Paulson wore grey tulle dress and a mask fashioned out of a dollar bill, obscuring part of her face.

When the BBC asked her what is signified, she simply said the "1 percent".