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The first Monday in May has come and gone, but we’ll always have these Polaroids. Last night, stars from the worlds of art, design, music, and film came together on the carpeted steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to celebrate fashion.
The dress code of the2026 Met Gala, “Fashion Is Art,” was inspired by the museum’s new exhibition, “Costume Art,” which celebrates the human body and its relationship to fashion. With such an abstract, creative theme, the beige carpet became a parade of sculptural gowns paying homage to the naked body, exposed nipple bras, elaborate costumes that nodded to both obscure and very famous art references, and shocking illusion looks that made us think—likeBad Bunny’s aging makeup moment.
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Everyone from Beyoncé, in herskeleton gown from Olivier Rousteing; to Rihanna, in hermetallic Maison Margiela gown; to Serena (in asilver party dress) and Venus Williams (in a sparkly black dress andSwarovski breastplate); and Nicole Kidman in herravishing red Chanel dressgraced the carpet in their designer best, taking the “Fashion Is Art” code to the next level.
And as always, after the party, there is the after-party. Gala attendees kept the celebration of fashion going through the night, hitting the many bashes that were sprinkled across the city—everywhere from The Mark hotel to the Surrey to the Boom Boom Room.
Photographer Andrew Tess went behind the scenes at the starry fêtes on fashion’s biggest night, capturing these Polaroid photos exclusively forHarper’s Bazaar. Scroll through for a feast of fashion and megawatt stardom.
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