Dwayne Johnson made a striking first appearance at the 2026 Met Gala, using fashion’s biggest night to spotlight his Polynesian heritage — and challenge Western ideas of masculinity.
The Moana star arrived at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in a custom Thom Browne look, featuring a mohair tailcoat, white vest and a pleated skirt layered over trousers. Walking alongside his wife Lauren Hashian, who wore a white halter-neck gown by the same designer, Johnson’s outfit quickly became one of the evening’s most talked-about looks.
But for Johnson, the skirt wasn’t just a fashion statement — it was cultural.
Speaking to reporters on the carpet, he explained that the outfit was inspired by Polynesian tradition, where garments like the lavalava hold deep cultural significance.
“I feel great!” he replied. “First, [Thom Browne’s team] sent the illustrations over and [asked], ‘Hey, is DJ going to be cool with this pleated skirt?’ And I was like, ‘Look, in our culture, Polynesian culture, we rock lavalavas, we rock skirts.’ The most masculine men, not that I’m one of them, but the most masculine men wear lavalavas and skirts.”
@hollywoodreporter Are you the art or the artist? Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson answers at the 2026 #MetGala ♬ original sound – The Hollywood Reporter
The lavalava — a traditional wrap worn across many Pacific Island cultures — has long been associated with strength, identity and community, making Johnson’s Met Gala interpretation both personal and symbolic.
Beyond the outfit itself, Johnson also leaned into this year’s theme, “Costume Art,” reflecting on the blurred lines between fashion and self-expression. When asked whether he saw himself as the art or the artist, he pointed to the transformative power of what we wear.
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He said he was chatting with his friend and fellow actor Colman Domingo about “what this is is the beauty of art, and sometimes it’s a walking expression of art, and I could feel that. So am I the art or the artist? I think I’m both, and maybe that’s a cool place to be in.”
The 2026 Met Gala, themed “Fashion Is Art,” explored the relationship between clothing and the human form, with the accompanying “Costume Art” exhibition examining how garments shape identity across cultures and time.
While Johnson’s cultural statement stood out, the 2026 Met Gala also marked a broader shift in representation across the carpet.
Asian stars made a strong impression throughout the evening, with BLACKPINK’s Lisa serving as a co-chair — becoming the first K-pop idol to join the Met Gala host committee. All four members of the group attended together for the first time, alongside appearances from aespa’s Karina and Ningning, actor Ahn Hyo-seop and Olympic champion Eileen Gu.
Together, the night reflected a growing global influence on fashion’s most exclusive stage — one where heritage, identity and storytelling are becoming just as important as design.
With co-chairs including Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, the 2026 Met Gala ultimately underscored a shift toward a more expansive definition of fashion — one that embraces culture as much as couture.
