The 2026 Met Gala promised to turn the red carpet into a high-fashion museum, but for some celebrities, the “Fashion Is Art” theme resulted in a total gallery disaster.

While the “Costume Art” exhibition celebrated innovation, these stars managed to find the fine line between avant-garde and “what were they thinking?”

Bored Panda has compiled the most polarising and panned looks that had the internet talking for all the wrong reasons.

Here are the looks that proved not all art belongs in a frame.

#1 Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour, queen of the Met Gala, interpreted the “Costume Art” theme in a custom Chanel turquoise and black embroidered gown with a large feathery jacket.

She kept her iconic blunt bob, heavy bangs, and oversized sunglasses.

However, hosting didn’t shield her from online critiques. While the look remained classic Anna, many fans questioned the repetitive silhouette, with one user writing, “girl she looks like a flightless bird. delete this now.”

Another pointed out the lack of evolution in her style, adding, “She’s been wearing variations of this same silhouette for 15 years. Innovation where? Or do we just keep praising her because it’s Anna?”

A third noted the irony of being the person in charge while “always looking chopped at your own event” wasn’t lost on the crowd.

One frustrated viewer wrote, “She’s worn this in a different color before. She’s so lazy and tasteless that it’s actually shocking,” while another simply joked that the “curse of being worst dressed guest is finally broken.”

#2 Kylie Jenner

#3 Sabrina Carpenter

#4 Heidi Klum

#5 Doechii

#6 Kim Kardashian

#7 Sam Smith

Sam Smith brought a dark, showstopping drama to the Met Gala, arriving as a literal work of art on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to highlight the event’s art-centric theme.

To match the dress code, Sam w
ore an art-inspired black mermaid gown by partner Christian Cowan.

The dramatic look included a fuzzy collar, winged sleeves, and a towering feathered headpiece.

Social media users were unmoved by the theatrical outfit, with many finding the look more “spooky” than “stunning.”

One viewer ruthlessly commented, “Sam Smith really paid six figures to show up looking like a budget Grim Reaper in that dusty black robe? Met Gala theme said ‘fashion is art’ and he brought ‘funeral director on clearance.'”

The criticism only intensified as the night went on, with another fan bluntly writing, “Well? Unarrive him,” while a third critic lamented, “Every time I see this man he always finds a way to look worse.”