The first Monday in May once again transformed The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York into the world’s most watched event.
The 2026 Met Gala, held on May 4, celebrated the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, Costume Art, with the dress code Fashion Is Art. This year’s edition explored the relationship between clothing, the body, and artistic expression, turning the Met steps into a living gallery of sculpture, movement, and performance.
MET GALA | FASHION AS A LIVING CANVA
Among the evening’s most memorable interpretations of the theme, Emma Chamberlain transformed the red carpet into a moving canvas in a custom Mugler gown, inspired by the maison’s 1997 La Chimère ensemble. Heidi Klum took a more theatrical approach, appearing as a living sculpture in a marble-like ensemble that fully embraced the idea of fashion as performance art, while Charli XCX offered a more restrained yet deeply artistic statement in a custom Saint Laurent look centered around an iris motif.
Photos: Dimitrios Kambouris, Mike Coppola and Michael Loccisano, Getty Images
Together, these looks showed the many ways this year’s dress code could be interpreted, from painted surfaces and sculptural illusion to couture craftsmanship and subtle art-historical references.
TIMEPIECES TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT
Watches were no longer treated as secondary accessories, but as part of the overall creative statement. Pieces chosen for their shape, rarity and ability to complete a look with character. Some of the strongest moments came from shaped and archival watches.
Rami Malek wore a 1992 platinum Cartier Crash, while Bad Bunny opted for a 1996 Cartier Cloche, two unconventional silhouettes that felt perfectly aligned with the artistic spirit of the evening.
The night also delivered major statement pieces. Dwayne Johnson made his Met Gala debut wearing Jacob & Co.’s Billionaire III, a 54 mm timepiece set with 714 white diamonds totaling 129.61 carats, while Luke Evans brought a high-jewelry approach with the Hublot Big Bang Unico High Jewelry.
There were also more refined expressions of horology. Skepta chose an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin, and A$AP Rocky appeared with an Chanel Boy-Friend Skeleton. These choices brought a sense of technical sophistication to the carpet, proving that complications and classic watchmaking still have a place in one of fashion’s most theatrical settings.
Photos: Getty Images.
A FEMININE TAKE ON HIGH WATCHMAKING
Women’s watch moments brought a refined and expressive dimension to the show, with Serena Williams, Lisa, and Irina Shayk offering three distinct interpretations of timepieces as style statements.
Serena Williams chose an Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar, adding technical sophistication to her look, while Lisa embraced a jewelry-led approach with Bulgari’s Serpenti Spiga High Jewelry. Irina Shayk took the concept in a more experimental direction, incorporating several timepieces into her Alexander Wang look: including a diamond-set Cartier Santos placed at the center of her top, alongside vintage watches styled as jewelry pieces, from chokers to arm cuffs.
Together, their choices showed how watches can move beyond function to become powerful expressions of personality and style.
Photos: Getty Images and AFP.
As the 2026 Met Gala proved, fashion’s biggest night is no longer defined by couture alone. This year, watches became part of the visual conversation, from rare vintage pieces and high-jewelry creations to bold styling choices that transformed timepieces into fashion statements. More than accessories, they added depth and personality to the event, reinforcing the idea that true style lives in the details.
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