The most outrageous flesh-baring outfits from Met Gala 2026 as turned-off critics blast ‘cheap’ displays

The 2026 Met Gala may have some of the raunchiest outfits on record.

The dress code for this year’s event, ‘Fashion Is Art’, called on the A-list attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas, and many flesh-flashing guests certainly did.

Irina Shayk, Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Cara Delevingne were among the celebrities serving racy interpretations of this year’s theme – with some wearing next-to-nothing.

Shayk, 40, walked the iconic staircase in a custom Alexander Wang look featuring a bra made of costume jewelry and her sculpted abs on full display.

Gigi, 31, meanwhile, boldly flashed her underwear in a completely sheer black dress by Miu Miu that contained strategically-placed decorations to protect some semblance of modesty.

Irina Shayk and Gigi Hadid were among the Met Gala guests daring to bare on the iconic staircase

Kylie Jenner turned heads with a dress that offered the illusion of nudity

Cara Delevingne wore a deceptively sexy gown that revealed her toned back

Jenner, 28, stepped out in an intricate Schiaparelli gown, with a nude, curve-hugging corset top and a half-tied, cream colored, bejeweled satin skirt.

The back of the dress featured an undone look, and she paired it with a dramatic hairstyle, leaving just one strand around her eyes, and chunky pearl earrings and matching necklace.

Meanwhile, Cara, 33, walked the red carpet in a deceptively sexy gown by Ralph Lauren – from the front, she was a vision of glamour in a black turtleneck gown that cascaded to the floor.

But she dropped jaws once she turned around, with her completely backless gown that showed off plenty of skin.

Singer Tyla was another notable attendee whose skimpy dress pushed the envelope.

The singer opted for a glamorous dress that featured a bust made entirely of jewelry.

Elsewhere, Lena Mahfouf also did not shy away from showing some major skin.

The French influencer, 28, worked the iconic staircase with a molding of two hands covering her breasts – and a baby blue dress hugging her waist with delicate straps.

The theme of this year’s event – widely considered the Super Bowl of celebrity red carpets – is ‘Costume Art’, while the dress code is ‘Fashion Is Art.’

But the outfits on display failed to impress several netizens, with one posting: ‘Hate met gala looks that look cheap, like bffr.’

‘The Met Gala is giving cheap boring prom attire this year,’ another tweeted.

‘Is she naked or is that the new trend?’ one asked of Jenner’s look.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, also known as the Met Gala, falls on the first Monday in May every year.

Leading the charge is a powerhouse trio of co-chairs, with Beyonce, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams joining forces with Vogue’s global editorial director Anna Wintour to oversee fashion’s biggest night.

The seemingly modest dress was completely backless

Cara worked the legendary staircase in a Ralph Lauren dress

A bra made of costume jewelry covered Shayk’s cleavage

Shayk’s sculpted abs threatened to steal the show

The dress code of this year’s event, ‘Fashion Is Art’, calls on the A-list attendees to explore how designers use the human body as a blank canvas

Gigi’s dress featured strategically-placed designs to protect her modesty

Singer Tyla headed to the Met Gala in a bold dress that covered her cleavage in glamorous fashion

Gabrielle Union also worked the event in a delicate sheer dress that showed off her figure

Joey King turned up the heat in a sexy, sparkling number

It’s 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 will pair historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute for the exhibition, which will be loosely divided into three categories, including 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 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez, who are the lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs.

The title “Costume Art” refers to the history of the costume institute,’ Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s curator, said at a press conference.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti put her gym-honed abs front and center at the Met Gala

Lena Mahfouf also did not shy away from showing some major skin

The French influencer, 28, worked the iconic staircase with a molding of two hands covering her breasts – and a baby blue dress hugging her waist with delicate straps

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 is also sponsoring the exhibit.

The 2026 Met Gala will also have a host committee that includes committee co-chairs Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz, along with members Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Angela Bassett, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor and more.

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