K-pop stars Kareena and Ning Ning made their official Met Gala debut on Monday night.
The women, half of the popular girl group ESPA, attended separately; However, it’s safe to expect at least one photo of the group members inside the party together later in the night. The theme of the evening is “The Art of Fashion” and the dress code is “Fashion is Art”, inspired by the Costume Institute’s exhibition on fashion as an art form throughout history.
ESPA’s 26-year-old Kareena wore a white satin Prada dress with a black cape over it. The collection appears to be inspired by the Korean hanbok, a traditional piece of clothing dating back to the country’s Three Kingdoms period.
The singer and rapper’s entire collection was Prada, right down to the jewelry, shoes and wallet. Kareena has been an ambassador for the luxury fashion house since 2024. The brand previously described her as “one of the most talented K-Pop idols” when they announced their partnership.
On the other hand, her group member Ningning opted for a Gucci look. The 23-year-old looked ethereal in a custom black Gucci dress. The complex structure and set was the perfect debut for the Chinese pop singer. She completed the dress with Gucci shoes and Bulgari jewelry.
Just last week, Gucci announced that Ningning had joined the luxury fashion house as a brand ambassador. “I grew up fascinated by the Gucci brand, and it couldn’t be more true that I would help introduce the house’s designs to new generations and tastes,” the K-pop star said in a statement announcing the news.
Aespa is preparing to release its second full-length album lemonadelater this month. The 10-song album, set for release on May 29, “captures aespa at their boldest yet – pairing the group’s distinct future identity with sharper storytelling, soaring production and a more confident and sophisticated sound,” according to a statement from the group.
The four-member girl group, one of the most popular groups in Korea, is set to make its Lollapalooza debut in the United States in August. The band is no stranger to US festivals, having performed at all the major festivals, including the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Governors Ball, and Outside Lands.
Following their Lollapalooza debut, aespa are set to embark on a long world tour, which begins in August in Seoul, South Korea. The group begins its North American leg in September with stops at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico and the TD Coliseum in Toronto. They will then play eight cities in the US, including UBS Arena in New York and the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, before finishing the North American run in Vancouver, Canada.
The 2026 Met Gala will be chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, hold honorary chairs, sparking a buzz of controversy leading up to fashion’s biggest night.
This year’s host panel includes Anthony Vaccarello, Zoe Kravitz, Adut Akech, Angela Bassett, Sinéad Burke, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Gwendoline Christie, Misty Copeland, Alex Konsani, Elizabeth Debicki, Lena Dunham, Paloma Elsesser, Rebecca Hall, Blackpink Lisa, Chloe Malley, Amy Mullins, Amy Sherald, and Chabalala. Self, Sam Smith, Teyana Taylor, Anna Weyant, Lauren Wasser, Aja Wilson, Chase Sui Wonders Wesult.
The 2026 Met Gala was held Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. See what all the stars wore here, and get to know everything Hollywood ReporterMet Gala coverage here.
