They say good things happen in threes, however we’re already expecting Doja Cat’s fourth appearance at the 2026 Met Gala to be a welcome exception to that rule. From her first attendance in 2023 to her meteoric rise to host committee member this year (plus Vogue’s April cover star) she has consistently been ahead-of-the-curve in the high-costume art spectacles that have taken hold of the event’s red carpet in recent years. 

While many may shy away from being too bold at their first Met Gala, Doja Cat came out swinging. The 2023 theme was, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” understandably prompting many guests to pay homage to the late designer’s ready iconography. However, while many went for the theme’s more traditional route, wearing black, white, and plenty of tweed, Doja Cat’s look was a tad more…let’s say, method. That year she donned what we’re calling "Choupette demi-drag" as she conjured a striking resemblance to Lagerfeld’s treasured cat—a nominally appropriate reference—in full facial prosthetics and a custom glittering and hooded Oscar de la Renta gown, complete with sewn-on ears. 

In contrast, Doja Cat’s 2024 look may have felt like a more toned-down option, but her once again unique approach to the theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” cemented her Met Gala best-dressed status. The evening’s sartorial performance began at The Mark Hotel (the favored, and very glitzy, get-ready spot of attendees), where she emerged on the mini red carpet wrapped in a terrycloth towel alongside Vetement’s designer Guram Gvasalia, the only teaser for her Met look being her dripping Pat McGrath eyeshadow. By the time she reached the Met steps, she had donned a floor-length Vetements wet look dress, reminiscent of a comfy sleeping shirt. Double points are warranted for her almost campy, hyper-literal approach two years in a row. 

For 2025, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Doja Cat debuted the retro-eccentric aesthetic that has defined her latest album era. The singer stepped out onto the carpet in a custom Marc Jacobs block-and-tackle suit-cum-leotard. Its glittering pin stripes nodded to traditional menswear, while the yellow leopard front patch was reminiscent of her feline debut. “Doja is someone who knows exactly what she wants,” Jacobs told Vogue’s Liam Hess for her recent cover story. “She came with references, mood boards, and really considered feedback…while never shying away from trying something the team suggested. And she can pull off a look like no one else.”

As for what we can hopefully expect from the sartorially bold singer this year? We could see another take on the sculptural ’80s, fitting for the theme “Costume Art,” or, maybe we can expect the launch of a whole new look.