Venus Williams Aces Met Gala 2026 in Elaborate Swarovski Neckpiece

Venus Williams served an ace with her 2026 Met Gala look.

The tennis star, serving as a co-chair for this year’s event, made a grand entrance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4th, sporting an outfit that could have been worn on the court.

Venus perfectly embodied the “Fashion Is Art” theme, wearing a stunning, custom-made black mermaid gown covered in Swarovski crystals. She completed the look with a dazzling diamond neck piece and arm chains, also from Swarovski, which created an elaborate, artistic effect.

The 45-year-old was accompanied by her husband, Andrea Preti, whom she married in December. He wore a traditional black suit and bowtie.

Venus Williams is a Met Gala veteran, but this year marks her debut as a co-chair. She’s joining a prestigious group including fashion icon Anna Wintour, actress Nicole Kidman, and singer Beyoncé. Her sister, Serena Williams, previously co-hosted the gala in 2019.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who once studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, has long appreciated the Met Gala and what it represents.

Venus Williams shared with Marie Claire UK in August that she’s a big fan of fashion. She joked about previously being a shopaholic, but feels she’s finally overcome that habit after a long time.

She went on to say she enjoys watching fashion shows. She finds them entertaining, captivating, and motivating, and simply loves the experience.

Plus, Venus doesn’t want her status as a world-renowned athlete to pigeon-hole her opportunities.

She explained that she doesn’t like categorizing art – or people. She believes people sometimes feel pressured to create work that others expect, worrying about how they’ll be perceived. She feels no one should have to create under that kind of pressure.

Venus and her fellow hosts will be joined by a glamorous host committee featuring Zoë Kravitz, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, and Teyana Taylor. Chloe Malle, in her first Met Gala appearance since becoming Head of Editorial Content at American Vogue, is also helping to host the event.

For all the stars who graced the steps of the 2026 Met Gala, keep reading…