Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé shrugged at a Met Gala rule with their exquisite dates.
The actress and singer who co-chaired the star-studded fashion event along with other A-list industry stars left many talking, and not only because of their stunning looks. The former Destiny’s Child vocalist still made heads turn, marking her first appearance at the event in a decade.
Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé are not the only stars whose names remain on the lips of many after walking the Met Gala red carpet on Monday night. While the co-chairs’ appearances ignited conversation, the absence of many highly anticipated entertainers raised speculation.
Kidman made her debut at the Met Gala in 2003, and over two decades later, she walks hand in hand with his daughter, Sunday Rose. Sunday graced the 2026 Fashion is Art themed event for the first time, dressed in a strapless pink and lilac floral gown with a billowing bodice as she flashed smiles for the cameras.
The 17-year-old sealed the look with matching statement earrings and a purse while her brown straight locks were neatly parted to the side, thanks to celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel. The “Babygirl” star walked right by her daughter’s side, donning a deep red sequined Chanel gown that was part of Chanel’s 2027 Cruise collection.
PEOPLE shared that Kidman’s look featured a drop waist accessorized with a feather peplum and small train. She wore her blonde straight hair in a banged-down look that ran past her shoulders.
Why Sunday Rose’s Appearance Has Many Talking
Sunday is one year shy of the Met Gala’s age limit, which states that invitees must be 18 years or older to attend the event. This rule was brought to light in May 2018 when “Dance Moms” alum Maddie Zieler told news outlets that she could not attend the event because she was not old enough at the time.
The theme for the event that year was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” and widespread speculation was that the age restriction was in place due to the theme. However, the Met Gala organizers clarified that the age limit had nothing to do with the theme. They stressed that it was an executive decision that “it’s not an appropriate event for people under 18.”
Even though Sunday’s first-time appearance at the event seemingly bent the rules, she is no stranger to cameras, fashion, and strutting in glamorous outfits. The young model made her catwalk debut as part of Miu Miu’s summer/spring 2025 show in Paris in October 2024 and has since been a fixture at Fashion Week.
The Met Gala Age Limit’s Bar Dropped With Beyoncé’s Date
While Kidman’s daughter is just a year below the age limit, Beyoncé walked onto the red carpet with her 14-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. The “If I Were A Boy” singer’s appearance at the event after ten years turned a family affair as she not only walked the Met Gala carpet with her daughter but also with her husband, Jay-Z.
The young singer caught eyes effortlessly as she stepped out in a white gown with a dramatic bubble skirt, a matching jacket, and metallic heels. The iconic look that carried so much elegance beyond Blue Ivy’s years was completed with a pair of striking sunglasses, which she refused to take off for pictures on the carpet, as reported by The Blast.
Blue Ivy became one of the youngest attendees at the Met, totally defying the age limit by four years, leaving many talking. Her presence sparked debate online as many questioned why the organizers did not uphold the rules. “But so Blue Ivy is a minor too (14 years old isn’t 18), so she had no business being on the red carpet if we stick to the rules,” one netizen called out on X.
Another viral video showed that the 14-year-old did not succumb to signals from paparazzi as she posed for pictures with her parents. Red-carpet etiquette typically involves removing sunglasses for photos, especially during close-up shots, but Blue Ivy stood her ground even after Jay-Z asked her to take them off.
Inside Other Eye-Catching Debut Appearances
Besides Sunday and Blue Ivy, other celebrities walked the Met Gala carpet for the first time clad in striking outfits tailored to the event’s theme. Jaafar Jackson, who plays his late uncle in the biopic “Michael,” stepped onto the carpet looking dapper in a black velvet Ralph Lauren suit and bow tie with intricate gold detailing.
His look was reminiscent of one of the late entertainer Michael Jackson’s looks. The Blast reported that Jaafar admitted that although his outfit was a “bit last-minute,” he was able to collaborate with the brand to achieve the stylish look, which not only matched the theme but also “felt not just visually striking, but intentional.”
“Saturday Night Live” breakout star Marcello Hernandez made his Met Gala debut alongside his girlfriend, Ana Amelia Baylor Cabral. The comedian wore a black double-breasted Thom Browne suit with a bow tie, which he accessorized with a brooch from his mother.
Another jaw-dropping reed carpet debut look was served from South Korean-American singer Kim Eun-jae, professionally known as Ejae, known for her Oscar-winning song “Golden”. Ejae came dressed in a sparkling silver gown, which she revealed to news outlets was inspired by her Korean culture. Among other accessories, she added binyeos, traditional Korean ornamental hairpins, to her hair.
Some Celebrities Walked The Met Gala Carpet Solo
While fashion is the order of the day at the star-studded event, romance still finds its way to the table of discussion as many industry stars attended the event without their famous partners, sparking online conversations. Among the many A-list stars absent, Harry Styles‘ absence could not go unnoticed as he was not seen by his beau’s side days after news of their engagement made headlines.
While fans had expected a major debut from the singer and his fiancée, Zoë Kravitz, they were met with disappointment as the actress stepped out solo. Another detail that raised whispers was that Kravitz’s left ring finger was missing a piece of jewelry, her diamond ring, which she flashed for cameras days ago during outings.
The Blast also reports that Timothée Chalamet skipped the event, leaving girlfriend Kylie Jenner to walk solo for the second year in a row. Chalamet reportedly chose to watch a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden rather than attend the fashion event with his partner. Katy Perry also walked the red carpet alone, and so did Gigi Hadid.
Did Nicole Kidman & Beyoncé start a trend that other stars will follow at the next Met Gala?
