For over five decades, celebrities have hit the red carpet at theMet Galain their finest — and sometimes most outrageous — looks.
Hosted on the first Monday in May, the New York City event, more formally known as the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala, serves as a fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute. The evening consists of a host of celebrity attendees who don glamorous ensemblesthat match the year's unique theme.
The 2026 Met Gala, set to take place on May 4, brings a brand-new theme for guests to follow: “Fashion is Art." Theevent’s co-chairsincludeBeyoncé, who is returning to the event after a 10-year hiatus, alongsideNicole Kidman,Venus WilliamsandAnna Wintour.
Ahead of the 2026 Met Gala, here’s a look back at some of the most memorable fashion moments and photos from Met Galas past.
Cher in 1974
Cherattended the Met Gala in 1974, where the theme was “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design.” For the event, the singer wore a stunning sheer, bedazzled gown designed by Bob Mackie, made complete with feather fringe on the sleeves and hem.
Speaking toInterviewin January 2025, Mackiereflected on the reaction to Cher’s “naked illusion” dress, sharing that “the place went crazy” when she showed up wearing the gown.
“I’ve never seen so many photographers just come out of the shadows at the Met and take her picture,” he explained. “And of course she was in every newspaper the next day, and they’ve been printing it in the last 50 years, over and over again. But it was just amazing. People were horrified, they thought, that’s not fashion, she’s just naked at the Metropolitan.”
Christy Turlington in 1992
Christy Turlingtonembraced her inner Audrey Hepburn for her look in 1992. The theme of the evening was “Fashion and History: A Dialogue,” with Turlington opting to wear a long, black dress styled with multiple strings of pearls for a dramatic choker look and a white fringed shawl.
Princess Diana in 1996
Princess Dianaattended the Met Gala in 1996. The evening’s theme was “Christian Dior,” an homage to the designer who had died in 1957. The late royal wore a navy blue silk slip dress designed by John Galliano, the creative director of Dior at the time, paired with a stunning pearl-and-sapphire necklace.
Galliano spoke about the fashion moment in the Hulu docuseriesIn Vogue: The 90s,includingone major adjustment the princess made to the dresswithout the designer’s knowledge.
"Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car. I couldn't believe it. She'd ripped the corset out,” he explained. “She didn't want to wear the corset. She felt so liberated. She'd torn the corset out. The dress was much more… sensuous.”
Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney in 1999
Liv TylerandStella McCartneyare no strangers to the rock n’ roll lifestyle as the daughters of music iconsSteven TylerandPaul McCartney. It’s no surprise then that the duo would have tongue-in-cheek ensembles for the 1999 theme “Rock Style,” both donning off-the-shoulder homemade T-shirts that read “Rock Royalty.” To complete their looks, Tyler wore a black Comme des Garçons skirt while McCartney chose a pair of pants from Chloé that she’d designed herself.
They looked back on this fashion moment during a May 2020 interview withVogue,with McCartney explaining, “I didn’t come at it intentionally to be rebellious at all. I didn’t know what people wore.”
“It wasn’t really appropriate that we wore those shirts. Officially, we weren’t following the honors of the dress code,” Tyler added. It was an amazing thing, in a way. We were just being ourselves.”
Amber Valletta in 2004
SupermodelAmber Vallettaembraced her inner Marie Antoinette at the 2004 Met Gala, where the theme was “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century.” For the event, Valletta wore a nude-toned corset designed by Maggie Norris Couture paired with a patterned, voluminous skirt by John Galliano, perWWD.
Sarah Jessica Parker in 2006
Sarah Jessica Parkershowed up for the 2006 theme “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion,” arm-in-arm with her designer for the evening, the lateAlexander McQueen. Parker wore a tan taffeta tea-length dress with black embroidery around the bodice, overlaid with a red-and-black tartan fabric that matched McQueen’s kilt.
In April 2022, Parkerlooked back at this dresswithVogueand reflected on the evening with McQueen, explaining, "It wasn't a fun night. It was, but it wasn't. Because I was so nervous. I just wanted him to be okay.”
"He knew how I felt about him, and there was so much affection and such a deep admiration and everybody loved him because he was such a touching person,” she added.
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Kate Moss in 2009
Who better to embrace the theme of “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion” thanKate Moss? The legendary model, who co-hosted the event in 2009 alongside Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs and Justin Timberlake, perW Magazine, wore a one-shouldered metallic mini dress by Jacobs paired with matching platform pumps.
Marc Jacobs in 2012
While designerMarc Jacobshas dressed countless celebrities for the Met Gala over the years, he made headlines with his own look at the 2012 Met Gala. The theme of the evening was “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations,” though Jacobs opted to wear a sheer black lace ensemble by Commes des Garcons to the event with only a pair of white boxers underneath.
Rihanna in 2015
It’s fair to say thatevery look Rihanna has worn to the Met Galaover the years has been iconic in its own way. The singer is known for a late arrival worth waiting for, donning numerous extravagant outfits that perfectly match the theme. Whileshe debuted her baby bumpfor her third child at the Met Gala in 2025,Rihanna’slook in 2015 was one to remember.
In 2015, the singer repped Chinese designer Guo Pei on the red carpet, donning a stunning yellow gown with a dramatic, circular train. The dress ranks as one of Rihanna’s most iconic looks, and possibly one of her most meme’d looks, with fans turning the train into pizzas and omelettes.
Solange Knowles in 2015
Much like her sister Beyoncé,Solange Knowlesknows how to show up and show out at the Met Gala. She attended the event in 2015 for the theme “China: Through the Looking Glass,” wearing a unique Giles Deacon frock to celebrate the occasion. The sculptural dress featured a black, white and blue pattern distorted by the micro-pleating of the fabric.
Taylor Swift in 2016
Taylor Swifthasattended the Met Gala several times, though her look at the 2016 event was a standout for the singer. The theme of the evening was “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology,” with Swift (in her bleach-blonde era!) wearing a silver Louis Vuitton mini dress with cutouts around the bodice paired with black heels that laced up to her knees.
Blake Lively in 2018
Blake Livelyembraced the theme at the Met Gala in 2018 for “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” The actress wore a burgundy Versace gown with a gold embellished bodice and all-over embroidery.
Lady Gaga in 2019
Lady Gagagave fans a four-for-one look at the 2019 Met Gala, taking the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion” to the next level.
The singer’s ensemble was designed by Brandon Maxwell and featured four distinct phases. Lady Gaga started the red carpet wearing a hot pink voluminous gown, but as she started to peel the layers of her outfit off, she revealed a black gown underneath, followed by a bright pink column dress. She finished the evening off in a matching black bedazzled lingerie set.
Janelle Monáe in 2019
The 2019 Met Gala was an evening of stellar looks, includingJanelle Monáe’sanimatronic Christina Siriano ensemble. Monáe sported a pop art-esque gown featuring black, white and bold pink details. The pièce de résistance of the gown was the eyes adorning the dress, which included a motorized blinking eye over one breast.
Kacey Musgraves in 2019
Kacey Musgraveswas four years early tothe Barbiecore trendthat took over the summer of 2023. The country singerwore a hot pink Moschino numberto the 2019 Met Gala, which included a leather jacket gown, fur stole and blow dryer purse. She even rolled up to the event in a pink convertible for a full camp moment.
Kim Kardashian in 2022
In recent years,Kim Kardashianhas made headlines forher red carpet looks at the Met Gala,from her 2013 debutwearing a long-sleeved floral custom Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci dresswith her baby bump on full display to herdramatic corseted custom Mugler lookin 2019.
Kardashian attended the event in 2022, where the theme was “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” The SKIMS founderwas the talk of the nightthanks to her controversial ensemble for the evening: Marilyn Monroe’s"Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress.
Tyla in 2024
SingerTylastunned fans atthe Met Gala in 2024, where the theme was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion." Tyla’s gownwas inspired by “the sands of time,”wearing a Balmain dress that featured a sand-like texture.
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