Cardi B put on a brave face while attending the Met Gala 2026 in NYC on May 4, revealing on the red carpet that she's actually under the weather and battling a cold on fashion's biggest night.
Cardi B's Polarizing Met Gala 2026 Look Is Being Compared to Intestines
Nothing can stop Cardi B from being a part of fashion's biggest night—not even the sniffles.
While attending the Met Gala 2026 in New York City on May 4, the "Bodak Yellow" rapper revealed she's most likely skipping the annual fundraiser's star-studded after parties. (See every star as they arrive to the Met Gala 2026 here.)
"Why's that?" you ask?
"You wanna know a secret?" Cardi told reporters outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a video posted to X. "I'm actually sick and I have a fever."
Despite feeling under the weather, the 33-year-old put on a brave face while making jaws drop in her custom Marc Jacobs look for the 2026 dress code of "Fashion Is Art." The bold black lace dress featured giant masses on both shoulders with more voluminous designs at the bottom that seemed to resemble an abstract form of the human body.
While the Fashion Police jury debates a verdict on Cardi's seventh Met Gala look, one thing's for sure: The rapper's fashion was anything but boring.
Of course, Cardi is no stranger to making a splash on the Met Museum's famed steps.
In 2024, she arrived with a nine-person entourage to help arrange the massive train of her flowing Windowsen gown for the "Garden of Time"-themed party.
And last year, the "I Like It" artist crushed it in a green velvet ensemble crafted by Burberry designer Daniel Lee for "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
But as easy as Cardi makes it look, it's no simple feat pulling off her extremely complicated looks.
"We always try to make sure that everything goes right, that everything be iconic," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024. "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.”
Keep reading to see every star at fashion's biggest night.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Beyoncé
in custom Olivier Rousteing.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Rihanna
in Maison Margiela, Briony Raymond and Dyne jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kim Kardashian
in custom Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Bad Bunny
in custom Zara.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Heidi Klum
in custom Mike Marino.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Cardi B
in Marc Jacobs.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Hailey Bieber
in custom Saint Laurent.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Blake Lively
in Atelier Versace.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Sabrina Carpenter
in Dior.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Anne Hathaway
in Michael Kors.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Kylie Jenner
in custom Schiaparelli.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Katy Perry
in Stella McCartney.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Gigi Hadid
in custom Miu Miu.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Lisa
in Robert Wun.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Teyana Taylor
in Tom Ford.
Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images
Blue Ivy Carter
in Balenciaga.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kendall Jenner
in Gap Studio by Zac Posen.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Doja Cat
in Saint Laurent.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Margot Robbie
in Chanel.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Sunday Rose Kidman Urban & Nicole Kidman
in Dior (Kidman Urban) and Chanel (Kidman).
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
A$AP Rocky
in Chanel.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Emily Blunt
in Ashi Studio.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Cher
in custom Chrome Hearts and Swarovski jewelry.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Zoë Kravitz
in Saint Laurent.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Suki Waterhouse
in Michael Kors.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Tyla
in Valentino.
Photo by John Shearer/WireImage
Jeremy Pope
in Vivienne Westwood.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Ayo Edebiri
in Chanel.
John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Irina Shayk
in Alexander Wang.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Colman Domingo
in Valentino.
Tune in to E! today, May 4, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT for every must-see moment from the Met Gala 2026.