Heidi Klum Transforms into a Living Sculpture at 2026 Met Gala

Key facts

• Heidi Klum attended the 2026 Met Gala on Monday, May 4, wearing a custom look by designer Mike Marino.
• The outfit was inspired by Giuseppe Sammartino's 'Veiled Christ' (1753) and Raffaele Monti's 'Veiled Vestal' (1847).
• The ensemble used latex and spandex to create the illusion of carved stone while allowing movement.
• The 2026 Met Gala theme is 'Fashion is Art,' tied to the Costume Art exhibition curated by Andrew Bolton.
• Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour are co-chairing the gala.
• Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are lead sponsors, with additional support from Saint Laurent and Condé Nast.
• Klum has attended the Met Gala since 2003 but never before fully embraced the theme as a living sculpture.
• Klum recently made a cameo in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' and partnered with Grey Goose to promote the film.

A Living Sculpture on the Steps

Heidi Klum arrived at the 2026 Met Gala on Monday night transformed into a living sculpture, her face and body rendered in antique plaster tones by prosthetics and a custom garment. The 52-year-old supermodel and Project Runway host wore a creation by designer Mike Marino that drew directly from classical works: Giuseppe Sammartino's 'Veiled Christ' (1753) and Raffaele Monti's 'Veiled Vestal' (1847). The outfit, made from latex and spandex, was engineered to mimic the texture of carved stone while remaining flexible enough for movement. A press release described the result as 'a dress that blurs the line between sculpture and fashion, rooted in traditional garment-making, but elevated through texture, technique and illusion.' Klum's transformation was so complete that she appeared unrecognizable, a deliberate choice that echoed her famously elaborate Halloween costumes. Her husband Tom Kaulitz accompanied her, though his own attire was not detailed.

Embracing the 'Fashion is Art' Theme

The 2026 Met Gala theme, 'Fashion is Art,' is tied to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Art exhibition, which examines 'the centrality of the dressed body, juxtaposing objects from across the museum's vast collection with historical and contemporary garments from the Institute.' The exhibition, curated by Andrew Bolton, runs from May 10 to January 10, 2027. Klum took the dress code literally, a departure from her previous Met Gala appearances. In 2025, she wore custom Vetements that embraced the 'Tailored for You' dress code with a fabric from 1798, noting that the same type of cloth had been used to dress the Pope and the Vatican for centuries. This year, she went further, turning herself into a walking work of art. Other celebrities at the gala included Connor Storie, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Emma Chamberlain, and many more, each interpreting the theme in their own way. The event was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour.

The People Behind the Gala

The 2026 Met Gala is led by a host committee that includes Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Alex Consani, Misty Copeland, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Lisa, newly installed head of editorial content of Vogue U.S. Chloe Malle, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Lauren Wasser, Anna Weyant, A’ja Wilson, and Yseult. Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz are leading the host committee. Lead sponsors Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos provided financial backing, with additional support from Saint Laurent and Condé Nast. The gala's theme and exhibition are designed to highlight the intersection of fashion and art, drawing from the Met's vast collections.

Klum's Met Gala History and Halloween Parallels

Klum has been a Met Gala attendee since 2003, but this year marks the first time she has fully immersed herself in the theme with such literal interpretation. Her past appearances have been more subtle, such as in 2025 when she wore a suit-like garment made from historic fabric. This year's look, however, is a direct nod to her annual Halloween parties, where she often undergoes elaborate transformations. In October 2025, Klum channeled Medusa at her New York City Halloween party, a five-month project, while her husband Tom Kaulitz dressed as a warrior who fell victim to her gaze. The Met Gala look, while less time-intensive, similarly relies on prosthetics and heavy makeup to obscure her features. Klum's willingness to render herself unrecognizable for fashion is a hallmark of her public persona, and this year's Met Gala appearance solidifies that reputation.

A Cameo in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'

Klum recently appeared in a cameo for 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' a sequel to the 2006 film. She partnered with Grey Goose to promote the film and told ABC, 'I was so lucky 20 years ago to have a tiny little glimpse to be in this movie. I remember it was with Mr. Valentino, and it was tiny, tiny, tiny, but still to be in such an epic movie for me, it was so amazing and still is. And I maybe have a tiny little part in it this year, I hope that they didn’t snip snip me out, I don’t know. But it was about fashion, about the people at the top top top in fashion, so it gave a little glimpse, a little insight.' The film's focus on the fashion world aligns with Klum's own career, and her cameo underscores her enduring relevance in the industry. Her Met Gala appearance, meanwhile, keeps her in the spotlight as a fashion icon willing to take risks.

The Broader Context of the Met Gala 2026

The 2026 Met Gala continues a tradition of blending high fashion with artistic expression, this year explicitly tying the event to the Costume Art exhibition. The exhibition juxtaposes historical and contemporary garments with objects from the Met's collection, emphasizing the dressed body as a central theme. Other notable attendees included Bad Bunny, Ayo Edebiri, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Anne Hathaway, Laura Harrier, Doechii, Tate, Emily Blunt, and Hailey Bieber, each bringing their own interpretation of the theme. The gala remains fashion's biggest night, drawing global attention and setting trends for the year ahead. Klum's transformation into a living sculpture is likely to be one of the most talked-about looks of the evening, reinforcing her status as a master of costume and spectacle.

The bottom line

• Heidi Klum wore a custom Mike Marino look at the 2026 Met Gala, transforming into a living sculpture inspired by classical veiled statues.
• The outfit used latex and spandex to mimic carved stone, blurring the line between fashion and sculpture.
• The 2026 Met Gala theme 'Fashion is Art' is tied to the Costume Art exhibition curated by Andrew Bolton, running May 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027.
• Klum has attended the Met Gala since 2003 but never before fully embraced the theme as a literal work of art.
• The gala was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with lead sponsors Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos.
• Klum recently made a cameo in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' partnering with Grey Goose for promotion.