The Met Gala steps have always been a stage for fashion history. As stars ascend the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for the biggest night in fashion—honoring the "Costume Art" theme at the May 4 event—they use the iconic staircase to showcase their most daring looks.
Take Zendaya's Joan of Arc-inspired outfit at the 2018 Met Gala. She wore a silver ensemble with a knight-like neck plate, shoulder guards, and a chainmail skirt, completing the "Sunday Best" dress code with silver platform heels and Joan's micro bob with bangs. Although the Euphoria star slayed the "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" theme, navigating the steps was no easy feat.
"Typically, I can handle a night out, with my heels and everything," she told Vogue in 2024. "I've worn heels for a long time. But I don't know, something about a mixture of wearing these platforms and the heaviness of my dress, I was struggling."
Cardi B knows the challenge—and reward—of turning heads at the Met Gala. For the 2019 soirée's "Camp: Notes on Fashion" theme, she stepped out in a massive burgundy gown. With stylist Kollin Carter, Cardi has continued to deliver iconic moments since her 2018 debut.
"We always try to make sure that everything goes right, that everything be iconic," she told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2024. "We want everything to be iconic. I know people sometimes be like, 'Oh, it's not about who is there and who is not,' but it's like, no, you need to remember us forever."
Sometimes, the most unforgettable looks aren't about the clothes. Rihanna showed off her baby bump alongside partner A$AP Rocky in a Marc Jacobs pinstripe skirt-suit at the 2025 Met Gala. As co-chair, it was the perfect place for the couple to reveal her pregnancy.
"It feels amazing, you know?" the dad of three said to The Associated Press. "We were tired of holding that, and it was time to show the people what we was cooking up."
As celebs prepare for the 2026 Met Gala on May 4, here are the most jaw-dropping looks over the years:
- Rihanna (2015): A bright yellow Guo Pei haute couture piece.
- Beyoncé (2015): A bedazzled, barely-there Givenchy design.
- Billy Porter (2019): A custom "Sun God" getup by The Blonds.
- Cardi B (2018): An angelic Moschino ensemble.
- Princess Diana (1996): A simple royal blue slip dress by Dior.
- Karolina Kurkova (2005): A white "I Love You" gown celebrating Chanel.
- Blake Lively (2018): A Versace piece with a gold headpiece and intricate train.
- Bella Hadid (2019): A sleek Alexander Wang catsuit.
- Cher (1985): A divine Bob Mackie design with diamond beading and feathers.
- Amber Valletta (2004): A royal-inspired look for the "Dangerous Liaisons" theme.
- Lady Gaga (2019): Multiple dramatic outfit changes on the red carpet.
- Cara Delevingne (2018): A cheeky Dior design resembling a confession box.
- Gigi Hadid (2018): An ethereal Versace dress with stained-glass jewel embellishments.
- Cardi B (2019): A Thom Browne gown with $250,000 worth of rubies.
- Jennifer Lopez (2019): A fiery Versace piece with a dragon design.
- Solange (2015): A Giles fashion fantasy with a fan-like structure.
- Christina Ricci (2011): A goth-glam design with massive tulle and a spider-like pattern.
- Katy Perry (2017): A fiery red Maison Margiela gown with veil and headpiece.
- Diana Ross (1981): A vivacious and voluminous glamorous gown.
- Ashley Graham (2017): A flower-power dress by H&M with a bouquet of roses.
- Zendaya (2018): Joan of Arc in Versace, head-to-toe silver armor.
- Charlize Theron (2018): An effortlessly elegant dramatic look.
The Met Gala continues to be the ultimate stage for fashion icons to make history.