Janelle Monáe Wore a Dress Made of Electrical Cables and Moss to the Met Gala

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala 2026 red carpet look was channeling post-apocalyptic glamour, thanks to Christian Siriano.

The artist wore a floor-length gown constructed from real electrical cables and wiring, interwoven with moss, succulents, and circuit board fragments, with butterfly motifs scattered throughout. Technology and nature tangled together. They were styled by Alexandra Mandelkorn for the occasion.

Celebrity hairstylist Nikki Nelms did Monáe’s hair in partnership with OGX.

Monáe is among the most prolific Met Gala regulars of the past decade and a half, having attended more than 10 times since their debut in 2011. Their history at the event spans a top-hat-and-tuxedo look for the “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” theme to increasingly theatrical ensembles, including a Christian Siriano color-blocked gown stacked with Sarah Sokol hats for the 2019 “Camp” theme, a custom Ralph Lauren look in 2021, and a holographic sequin custom Vera Wang gown in 2024. They served on the host committee of the 2025 gala, attending in a custom look for the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme.

The 2026 Met Gala took place on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This year’s exhibition, “Costume Art,” celebrated fashion as an art form, with a dress code of “Fashion Is Art.” The event was co-chaired by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos serving as honorary chairs. The annual benefit raises funds for the Met’s Costume Institute.