How Africa was Represented at the 2026 MET Gala

EVENTS May 7, 2026

Fashion is Art. That was the dress code for this year’s MET GALA.

The dress code was culled from the MET Gala’s 2026 spring 2026 exhibition, ‘Costume Art,’ which examines portrayals of the human body from across the Met’s curatorial departments, pairing garments with art objects spanning 5,000 years and covering a series of thematic body types like the naked body, the classical body, the pregnant body and the aging body. This is the backdrop against which the dress code for the biggest fashion night out of 2026 was chosen.

In this journal, we examine how African was represented at the MET Gala; from her widely successful descendants to her designs, fashion, and more.

Bronze goddess Anok Yai

The 2026 MET Gala was certainly the gala of models who took no prisoners in delivering the assignments. Anok Yai pulled out all stops as she walked the red carpet as black Madonna in a custom all-black silk taffeta, mermaid silhouette gown, opera gloves and a voluminous hooded collar. Leaning far into the ‘Costume Art’ theme, her ensemble featured a hand-sculpted metallic prosthetic wig with molten bronze skin and symbolic tear tracks on her cheeks. Her overall look was very dangerous, elevated, black widow look.

Of the look, Anok herself said, "I knew I wanted to blur the line between being human and being art, a bronze statue caught in movement"

Self-inspired Skepta

This year, Skepta taught us all a lesson in self-love and the tasteful act of self expression. He chose to go 'costume art' in Skepta. On his custom white Thom Browne suit that sported a zipped jacket and slightly baggy trousers, all of the famous rapper's bodily art were embroidered. What results is a truly one of a kind jaw-dropping piece that really brings the Fashion is Art dress code home to bear.

Jo’Burg Baddie - Tyla

Sporting a distinctively peacock-like look, Tyla did not disappoint fans with this year's ensemble. Donning a bold Valentino dress with a deep plunging neckline and form-fitting bodice, the 'Water' singer was looking deliciously regal in the dress whose bottom half was blue. With her body shimmering in iridescent blue paint and her fingers manicured after peacock feathers, Tyla’s look was well thought-out while displaying personal involvement and preference.

Bump-Cradling Adut Akech

Beaming with the East African glow, South Sudanese model, Adut Akech, took the ‘Costume Art’ theme to heart this year, gloriously representing the ‘pregnant body’ with her baby bump encladded in a custom-built Loewe maternity dress. For the look, an organza bodysuit with Lily of the Valley appliqués (May’s birth flower) was paired with a black silk taffeta overcoat.

Damson Idris

The darling of the screen, British-Nigerian actor Damson Idris, opted for an ironic Devil Wears Prada inspired look at this year’s MET Gala. The Prada Ambassador donned an antiqued red leather top paired with black leather trousers, topping it off with a black leather coat featuring red poplin tuxedo cuff details. He completed the look with a pair of black leather lace-ups, and custom ‘Didris’ jewellery from his personal brand.