It is billed as the Oscars of the fashion world - and some attendees certainly looked the part. 

Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Nicole Kidman and Hailey Bieber led the red carpet glamour at the 2026 Met Gala on Monday.

Kardashian, 45, asserted her status as a Met Gala veteran, marking 13 years of attendance at the star-studded event, delivering yet another headline-grabbing look. 

The reality TV star showcased her famous curves in a futuristic liquid-gold nude body dress - a collaboration between British pop artist Allen Jones and design duo Whitaker Malem.  

The provocative ensemble served as a tribute to Jones' 1975 poster for the x-rated flick Maitresse, about a leather-clad dominatrix. 

Beyonce, 44, reigned supreme on the red carpet as she made a triumphant return to the Met steps, ending her decade-long hiatus. The Crazy In Love hitmaker, who was one of the co-chairs this year, wore a sensational sequin skeleton dress by Olivier Rousteing. 

She was joined by husband Jay-Z, 56, and daughter Blue Ivy, 14, who made her debut at the event in a Balenciaga dress.

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.

Beyonce's dress featured an embellished diamond skeleton. She topped off the regal look with a towering silver crown. 

Kardashian - whose younger sister Kylie Jenner shocked fans by wearing a fake nipple dress - was accompanied by mom Kris Jenner, 70, who wore a kimono-inspired look. 

Meanwhile, Kidman, 58, commanded the red carpet in a breathtaking, floor-sweeping Chanel gown as she arrived at the glitzy event in New York City, with her sequin dress featuring feathers on the waist and sleeves.

The actress, who was one of the co-chairs this year, was joined by her and ex-husband Keith Urban's daughter, Sunday Rose, 17.   

Bieber, 29, stunned in an Yves Saint Laurent look featuring a golden breastplate and a blue chiffon skirt. Her husband Justin Bieber did not join her for the event.  

Anne Hathaway, 43, was a vision in a hand-painted Michael Kors gown. The Devil Wears Prada star's dress featured a painting of the Greek goddess of peace, Eirene. 

Model Gigi Hadid, 31, looked sensational in a transparent Miu Miu grey dress that left very little to the imagination. 

Wuthering Heights star Margot Robbie, 35, returned to the Met Gala for the first time since 2023 in a custom Chanel gown. 

Lauren Sanchez Bezos, 56, the wife of billionaire Jeff Bezos, arrived in a daringly low-cut Schiaparelli ensemble. 

This year's gala was marred with controversy over the Amazon founder, 62, and Sanchez sponsoring the event. The couple reportedly gave $10 million to the Costume Institute in exchange for being named honorary co-chairs. 

Elsewhere on the red carpet Kendall Jenner, 30, looked ethereal in a deconstructed cream Gap gown inspired by the Winged Victory Of Samothrace Greek statue.

Love Story star Sarah Pidgeon flashed a glimpse of her toned midriff in a sleeveless lime look. Her fashion-forward outfit was made by Loewe and featured a striking twisted bandeau top paired with a sleek, column skirt. 

Rihanna, 38, arrived fashionably late and sparkled in a silver custom sculptural Maison Margiela gown. She was joined by partner A$AP Rocky, 37, who showed off his trendy style in a long bubblegum pink coat. 

Newly engaged Zoe Kravitz, 37, opted for gothic glamour in a black lace Saint Laurent gown with a basque waist. 

The Batman star - who's set to marry former One Direction member Harry Styles - completed the look with black Romy slingback pumps.

Blake Lively, 38, made a bombshell return to the Met Gala red carpet just hours after finally settling her explosive Justin Baldoni legal battle.

She gave no hint of the off-screen drama, and appeared completely unbothered as she stepped out in a show-stopping archival Atelier Versace gown from the brand's Spring 2006 collection.

Daisy Jones And The Six star Camila Morrone, 28, cut an elegant figure in a black and white gown. 

Sabrina Carpenter, 26, put on a leggy display in a custom Dior dress made from tulle and film strips of the Audrey Hepburn movie Sabrina. 

Emily Blunt was the epitome of elegance in a black look featuring a pearl body necklace worth $500,000. She wore a corset top and slacks by Ashi Studio. 

Doja Cat, 30, rocked a silicone Saint Laurent dress with an ultra high side slit. 

One Battle After Another star Chase Infiniti wore a colorful sequin Thom Browne dress as she made her Met Gala debut. 

Julianne Moore, 65, looked incredible in an off-shoulder Bottega Veneta gown. 

Amanda Seyfried, 40, looked like a princess in a pink Prada ballgown. Her blonde tresses were slicked into a long ponytail.

Madonna, 67, wowed in a showstopping custom Saint Laurent look, which was inspired by The Temptation of St Anthony. Fragment II, a painting by Leonora Carrington, according to Vogue. 

Cher, 79, rocked a custom look by Burberry's Daniel Lee that featured a black leather corset jacket and a long tulle skirt. 

Gracie Abrams, 26, walked the red carpet in a gold Chanel dress. 

Supermodels Cara Delevingne, 33 and Ashley Graham , 38, led the early arrivals at the event. Vogue icon Delevingne flashed her cleavage in a racy, svelte black halterneck dress by Ralph Lauren as she wowed on the iconic carpet. 

Graham wore a sensational Di Petsa gown ahead of her co-hosting duties for the Met's official livestream. The gown, a highlight from the designer's fall 2026 range, was meticulously crafted to mimic the texture of serpent scales. 

Supermodel Kate Moss, 52, wowed in a sheer black dress with a black bodysuit underneath. Her model daughter Lila Moss, 23, looked striking in a delicate cream gown. 

Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman made a glamorous pair.

Olivia Wilde, 42, opted for a stylish black and white Thom Browne gown. Meanwhile, Coco Jones floated down the red carpet in a dreamy tulle gown.

Tennis superstar Serena Williams put her toned legs on display in a metallic Marc Jacobs mini dress.

Nosferatu star Lily-Rose Depp, 26, was ever the fashionista in a delicate violet gown.

Daisy Edgar-Jones, 27, wore a bridal white gown with a daring low-cut neckline. 

Swedish heartthrob Bill Skarsgard, 35, led men's fashion at the event. Meanwhile, actor Rami Malek looked stylish in a long black coat.

Met Gala chairwoman Anna Wintour, 76, dazzled in a baby blue feather jacket and a shimmering blue dress. Wintour's daughter Bee Carrozzini wowed in a red floral gown. 

Oprah's best friend Gayle King cut a glamorous figure in a gold gown with tassels. 

Influencer Tate McRae, 22, slipped into a cleavage-baring gold mermaid gown.

Singer Ciara had all eyes on her as she arrived in a showstopping gold gown paired with a crown. The Goodies hitmaker was joined by husband Russell Wilson.

Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti flashed the flesh in sheer black dress with a midriff cutout.

Carey Mulligan, 40, opted for a vibrant look with a pink vintage 1998 Prada dress.

Grace and Chloe Murdoch, the daughters of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng, made it a family affair as they were joined by their mother for a rare red-carpet appearance. 

Nepo baby Maya Hawke was the belle of the ball in a retro Prada dress which she paired with a headband.

Lisa looked angelic in a Robert Wun look.

Connor Storrie displayed his biceps in a polka dot Saint Laurent top and black dress pants while singer Jon Batiste wore all-white for the gala.

US skiing icon Lindsey Vonn dazzled in a glamorous white Thom Browne dress with an inky black pattern.

The dress code called on the A-list attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas. 

Beyonce, Kidman and Venus Williams joined forces with Vogue's global editorial director Wintour to oversee fashion's biggest night. 

It was the first time tennis superstar Williams has 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 showcase historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for the exhibition, which 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 lead sponsors Bezos and Sanchez. 

'The title "Costume Art" refers to the history of the Costume Institute,' Andrew Bolton, the collection's curator, said at a press conference. Bolton, who selects 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 also sponsored the exhibit.

Costume Art will run from May 10, 2026 through January 10, 2027, following the Met Gala on May 4.

The gala is a huge money-maker for the museum, and provides the Costume Institute with its main source of funding. 

The 2026 Met Gala marks a major moment because it's the first one since Wintour technically stepped back from her role as editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years. 

Wintour hired Chloe Malle as the new head of editorial content at the iconic fashion publication.

Wintour has famously been incredibly hands-on with the Met Gala over the years, and is credited with making it the splashy A-list affair it has become, beloved by celebrities like Rihanna, the Kardashians, Lively, Zendaya and more.

Last year, many stars did not attend the Met Gala, and some people thought it was to avoid making a faux pas because of the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which was centered around the political and aesthetic constructs of black dandyism.