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The Met Gala has done something remarkable: it’s made a Monday something to look forward to.
On May 4th, yes, the first Monday in May, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will host the 2026 Met Gala, which marks the opening of its spring blockbuster exhibition.
This year’s “Costume Art” exhibition will examine the variety of ways in which the dressed body has been depicted throughout the history of art, at the same time underscoring the fundamental role of fashion as an artistic discipline and medium in its own right. On the steps of the Met, co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams will welcome a host of glitterati under the dress code “fashion is art,” which portends an evening of compelling fashions to either love or distress about in your group chats.
It’s a Met Monday tradition, I’ve found, for everyone with an internet connection and a social media account to become a fashion critic for one night only. And why not? Fashion, as this exhibition aims to prove, is omnipresent in culture. Wearing it, and talking about it, is fun.
It’s in that spirit that we present a non-exhaustive yet robust list of the best Met Gala looks in history. Revisit Princess Diana’s terrific Dior by John Galliano navy bias cut slip dress, and recall Amber Valletta’s famed “Dangerous Liaisons” look from 2004, which, put together by the Vogue team for the supermodel, famously marked a before and after in Met Gala fashion. Consider, too, André Leon Talley’s fabulous capes and Rihanna’s legendary Guo Pei gown, or Stella McCartney’s and Liv Tyler’s matching “rock star” tees. Yes, all the usual suspects and fan favorites are here—including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s terrific vintage looks—but you’ll also find, hopefully, a deep cut or two.
The best part: If you disagree with these picks—remember to embrace that critical eye ahead of Monday.
