Misryoum rounds up how top athletes from Venus Williams to Eileen Gu made the 2026 Met Gala best-and-worst dressed lists.
Venus Williams and a crop of elite athletes turned the Met Gala into a full-blown sporting spectacle of style on the first Monday in May.
In a year when the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s iconic steps once again hosted fashion’s biggest night. Misryoum reports that athletes from tennis to winter sports arrived with looks that were either instantly memorable or almost aggressively safe.. Williams. serving as a co-chair for the event. walked the red carpet alongside her husband. Andrea Preti. wearing a crystal black gown designed to reflect light. a choice that looked polished but didn’t fully spark the same excitement as some of her peers.
That contrast is exactly what made the night feel different: sporting stars brought a competitive edge to the fashion arena, treating the carpet like a stage where risk can either pay off big or land flat.
Still, the best-dressed conversations quickly shifted.. Serena Williams also drew eyes with a metallic silver gown paired with warm-toned accessories. while China’s Olympic standout Eileen Gu delivered a striking pearlescent bubble-style look that cemented her reputation for understanding how to translate pageantry into impact.. Meanwhile. Alysa Liu brought elegance in red. and Naomi Osaka’s appearance stood out for its layered approach. including a transformation moment that kept attention locked on every step.
Misryoum’s take is simple: when athletes are this visible, their personal brands travel with them, and the Met Gala becomes less a detour and more an extension of their spotlight.
The “Costume Art” theme also shaped how each star leaned into visual storytelling.. Some outfits read like careful minimal statements. while others bordered on performance. especially when presentation and movement were part of the design.. Russell Wilson. however. leaned into an Egyptian-inspired aesthetic that drew attention for the wrong reasons. while Ciara’s look aimed for regal glamour with a sculpted gold-forward finish.
Later arrivals added a different kind of buzz.. NFL players Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson appeared together in custom suits. and WNBA standout Paige Bueckers opted for a paint-splattered style that fit the event’s artistic energy.. Lindsey Vonn added another layer to the narrative with a glamorous entrance that emphasized her return to the carpet without crutches. turning what could have been a private moment into a public statement.
By the time the final camera flashes faded, Misryoum’s key takeaway was clear: the Met Gala may be fashion’s Super Bowl, but this year it belonged just as much to athletes who understand attention, execution, and the power of a bold visual choice.