2026 Met Gala: K-Pop Stars Expected to Attend

The 2026 Met Gala was held on May 4 (local time) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The theme of this year's event was "​Costume Art," with the dress code being "​Fashion is Art." The Met Gala, which began in 1948, is a global fashion charity event held on the first Monday of May each year, attracting a large number of celebrities.

This year's event saw BLACKPINK members Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa all in attendance, drawing significant attention. Lisa made history as the first K-pop artist to be named to the Met Gala's host committee. The members garnered attention for their outfits, each showcasing their unique individuality. Jennie wore a blue Chanel gown adorned with 15,000 sequins, reportedly taking 540 hours to create. Jisoo graced the event in a pink Dior dress, adding elegance with floral bouquet embellishments and captivating onlookers with a Cartier necklace from their 1905 collection. Rosé paired a Saint Laurent black dress with a bird-shaped brooch, while Lisa sported a sheer white dress specially created by designer Robert Wun, featuring 3D-scanned arm details and a veil inspired by traditional Thai dance.

In addition to BLACKPINK, aespa members Karina and Ningning also attended. Karina expressed Korean beauty through a custom Prada outfit inspired by Hanbok, marking her debut at the Met Gala. Also present were EJAE and Audrey Nuna, who participated in the Netflix animation "K-pop: Demon Hunters," and actor Ahn Hyo-seop, who voiced the character Jinwoo in the series. Ahn Hyo-seop made his Met Gala debut, the first Korean male actor to do so in 11 years, showcasing an outfit with details reminiscent of traditional Korean Hanbok knot embellishments. Model and actress Jung Ho-yeon also attended as a muse for Louis Vuitton.

The significant presence of K-pop stars, Korean actors, and artists at this Met Gala highlighted the elevated status of Korean popular culture. Notably, styles that combined Korean aesthetics with modern fashion, such as the lines of Hanbok, traditional embellishments, floral decorations, and sculptural dresses, became prominent features on the red carpet. Following the event, the BLACKPINK members continued an informal tradition by sharing bathroom selfies taken with other celebrities.