Some celebrities might play it safe when interpreting the Met Gala themes…but two stars went all out with their looks this year.
Overnight, the fashion industry’s night of nights was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Formally called the Costume Institute Benefit, the event has been running since 1948 as a fundraiser for the art museum.
It’s become so prestigious that tickets aren’t actually available to buy – guests must be invited – and tickets to this year’s event were estimated to have cost $100,000 (£73,000) each.
The 2026 dress code was Fashion is Art, which encouraged attendees to dress as works of art themselves, with many taking inspiration from paintings and sculptures.
One famous face who fully embraced the theme was supermodel Heidi Klum.
Already famed for her commitment to Halloween outfits over the years, she turned up to the Met as a living statue.
The 52-year-old nodded to the 1847 Veiled Vestal statue by Raffaele Monti, which is a representation of a Vestal Virgin, the priestesses of the Ancient Roman goddess Vesta.
It was moved to Chatsworth House, the seat of the Cavendish family, in 1999, and in 2005 appeared in Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice film.
Heidi’s costume saw a grey material crafted and modelled to her body, with the effect resulting in it looking like she’d been draped in marble.
She even went so far as to have her face, hands and teeth painted to complete the look, then posing as if she were a piece of art.
Her efforts were celebrated by many, who shared their thoughts on her outfit on social media.
‘I knew who it was IMMEDIATELY. No one does these things like Heidi,’ user MizzAndee posted on X.
‘She understood the assignment completely!!!’ carolinagky declared.
‘I genuinely adore how much she commits to these type of things,’ Lyric shared.
‘Never disappoints. She’s that girl,’ RaquelVivienne wrote.
‘Heidi never fails me. Celebs, gather around! Take notes and be better next time,’ Isha added.
The model’s attire was a far cry from last year’s Met Gala get-up, in which she wore a simple black gown designed by Vetements creative director Guram Gvasalia.
Meanwhile Bad Bunny was another star who left many doing a double take after turning up and looking well beyond his years – and even unrecognisable to some.
The Puerto Rican rapper, 32, arrived as an aged version of himself – wearing a black suit paired with a timepiece and cane, as well as prosthetics by make-up artist Mike Marino, who has also been behind some of Heidi’s most iconic Halloween looks.
Bad Bunny – real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – worked with Mike to discuss how he might look in the decades to come, with the prosthetics featuring winkles, sags and sun spots.
His suit was one of his own designs with Zara, with the pussy bow referencing designer Charles James’ 1947 gown Bustle, which is part of the Met’s permanent collection.
To top off the look, he also donned a white wig, bushy eyebrows and facial hair.
Speaking to Vogue at the event, the rapper joked that it took him ‘53 years exactly’ to get ready for the event.
‘It took a little bit, but it was worth it. I hope it looks good. I always try to do something different, and this day of the Met is the perfect day to explore and recreate and express yourself in a different way so that’s what I’m doing tonight. I’m glad to be here with you and everyone here,’ he shared.
Reacting to his look, many people said they had no clue it was him at first, with one declaring it was ‘genius at another level’.
‘This is understanding the Met Gala. I adore the idea, how he pulls it off,’ melsolillo added.
Since attending the Met Gala for the first time in 2022, Bad Bunny – who was recently announced as one of Spotify’s most-streamed artists of all time – he’s embraced tailoring and cultural references, last year wearing a Prada suit with embellished gloves and a custom Puerto Rican pava hat, a nod to his heritage.
The 2026 Met Gala was co-chaired by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos serving as honorary chairs.
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