Met Gala 2026: Bold and Daring Fashion Takes Center Stage with Eye-Catching Skin-Baring Outfits

This year’s Met Gala theme presented a particularly challenging puzzle, yet many celebrities seemed to arrive at a similar stylistic conclusion.

Guests were tasked with showcasing how designers transform the human body into a work of art, with some interpreting this as a chance to reveal more skin than usual.

Among the stars who embraced daring interpretations of the “Fashion Is Art” theme were Irina Shayk, Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Cara Delevingne, who opted for outfits that left little to the imagination.

Irina Shayk, at 40, made a statement on the legendary steps in a bespoke Alexander Wang ensemble, featuring a bra adorned with costume jewels, allowing her chiseled abs to take center stage.

In a similarly audacious move, Gigi Hadid, 31, turned heads in a completely sheer black Miu Miu dress, highlighting her underwear while tastefully using embellishments to maintain a hint of modesty.

Irina Shayk, left, and Gigi Hadid were among the Met Gala guests daring to bare on the iconic staircase in New York City

Kylie Jenner turned heads with a dress that offered the illusion of nudity

Cara Delevingne wore a deceptively sexy gown that revealed her toned back 

Jenner, 28, stepped out in an intricate Schiaparelli gown, with a nude, curve-hugging corset top and a half-tied, cream-colored, bejeweled satin skirt. 

The back of the dress featured an undone look, and she paired it with a dramatic hairstyle, leaving just one strand around her eyes, and chunky pearl earrings and a matching necklace.

Meanwhile, Delevingne, 33, walked the red carpet in a deceptively sexy gown by Ralph Lauren – from the front, she was a vision of glamour in a black turtleneck gown that cascaded to the floor.

But once she turned around, her completely backless gown showed off plenty of skin.

Tyla was another notable attendee whose skimpy dress pushed the envelope. 

The singer opted for a glamorous dress that featured a bust made entirely of jewelry. 

Elsewhere, French influencer Lena Mahfouf also did not shy away from showing some major skin.

The 28-year-old worked the iconic staircase with a molding of two hands covering her breasts and a baby-blue dress hugging her waist, with delicate straps. 

The theme of this year’s event – widely considered the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets – was Costume Art, while the dress code was Fashion is Art.

But the outfits on display failed to impress several netizens, with one posting:  ‘Hate Met Gala looks that look cheap, like bffr.’

‘The Met Gala is giving cheap, boring prom attire this year,’ another tweeted.

‘Is she naked or is that the new trend?’ one asked of Jenner’s look.  

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, falls on the first Monday in May every year.

Leading the charge was a powerhouse trio of co-chairs, with Beyonce, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams joining forces with Vogue’s global editorial director Anna Wintour to oversee fashion’s biggest night. 

The model’s seemingly modest dress was completely backless

Delevingne worked the legendary staircase in a Ralph Lauren dress

A bra made of costume jewelry covered Shayk’s cleavage 

Shayk’s sculpted abs threatened to steal the show

The dress code of this year’s event, Fashion Is Art, called on the A-list attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas

Hadid’s dress featured strategically placed designs to protect her modesty

Singer Tyla headed to the Met Gala in a bold dress that covered her cleavage in glamorous fashion 

Gabrielle Union also worked the event in a delicate sheer dress that showed off her figure

Joey King turned up the heat in a sexy, sparkling number 

It was the first time tennis superstar Williams had co-chaired the gala. Kidman previously co-chaired the star-studded event in 2003 as well as 2005, and Beyonce was an honorary chair in 2013.

The New York City museum is set to pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for its upcoming exhibition, which opens on May 10. 

It will be loosely divided into three categories: the classical and the nude body, aging and pregnant bodies, and the anatomical body. 

The exhibit, set to unveil the Met’s sprawling new Conde M Nast Galleries, has been made possible by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez, who are the lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs. 

The title “Costume Art” refers to the history of the Costume Institute, Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s curator, said at a press conference.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti put her gym-honed abs front and center at the Met Gala

Lena Mahfouf also did not shy away from showing some major skin

The French influencer, 28, worked the iconic staircase with a molding of two hands covering her breasts, and a baby-blue dress hugging her waist with delicate straps

Bolton, who selected the theme, said fashion has ‘the status of art because of, and not in spite of, its relation to the body.’

French luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is also sponsoring the exhibit.

The 2026 Met Gala had a host committee that included committee co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz, along with members Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Angela Bassett, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and more. 

Costume Art will run from May 10 through January 10, 2027.