Rapper Cardi B revealed on the red carpet that she was feeling unwell before attending the prestigious MET Gala 2026, and her condition had not improved as she ascended the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Cardi B's Health Admission
"You wanna know a secret? I'm actually sick and I have a fever," she told reporters while climbing the Met Gala steps, according to an X post shared by Variety and reposted by people.com. Despite the fever, Cardi B was determined to attend the event, wearing a custom Marc Jacobs gown from his fall 2025 collection. The rapper was covered head-to-toe in lace for the gala, which had the theme "Costume Art."
Details of the Gown
The gown featured two large masses around her shoulders and at the bottom of the dress. The dress incorporated purple, pink, and orange in different sections, blending into a nude shade. The outfit also included light pink gloves underneath the satin on her hands and black leaf stitching along the dress, as reported by people.com. According to Vogue, the silhouette of the dress takes inspiration from German artist Hans Bellmer, who was often recognized for the life-sized female dolls he would produce.
MET Gala 2026 Theme and Exhibition
Vogue revealed in February that the 2026 Met Gala dress code would be "Fashion Is Art," which reflects the Metropolitan Museum of Art's spring 2026 exhibition titled "Costume Art." The announcement came about two months after the event's co-chairs Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour were announced. The curator in charge of the new "Costume Art" exhibit, Andrew Bolton, said the exhibition will address "the centrality of the dressed body in the museum's vast collection," by pairing paintings, sculptures, and other objects spanning the 5,000 years of art represented in The Met, alongside historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute.
Cardi B's Previous Met Gala Appearances
For last year's event, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," Cardi wore a luxurious ivy-colored Burberry suit created by Daniel Lee. She also shut down the Met Gala carpet in 2024 while wearing a voluminous black dress with a matching beehive-style headpiece. The previous year, she went viral on social media for wearing an impressive four outfits for her fourth outing at the event and its afterparty.
