After Sunday Rose and Blue Ivy's Met Gala Debuts, It Might Be Time to Normalize Inviting Kids to Fashion's Biggest Night

Michelle LeeWed, May 6, 2026 at 3:44 PM UTC

0

Blue Ivy Carter, Jay-Z and Beyoncé at the 2026 Met GalaCredit: Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty -

The 2026 Met Gala occurred on Monday, May 4

Although the event is known for having an age limit excluding guests under 18, Blue Ivy and Sunday Rose (Beyoncé and Nicole Kidman's teenagers) were able to snag an invite

This year's Met Gala theme was "Costume Art", with the dress code being "Fashion Is Art"

The 2026 Met Gala will forever be cemented as the most chic "Bring Your Kid to Work Day."

Believe it or not, the first Monday in May has already gone by in a flash, but it's likely that stars who know they're guaranteed an invite to the party heard around the world are already mapping out their looks for the coming year — which, speaking of, I'd like to propose something new and maybe even controversial: lifting the ban on kids.

Ever since Maddie Ziegler confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that she wasn't "old enough" to attend the ball at the age of 15, it's been confirmed that the event runs a tight ship about inviting anyone under the age of 18. Organizers of the night (which has been chaired by Anna Wintour since 1995) shared with the outlet in 2018 its new age limit. It didn't have anything to do with that year's "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" theme; instead, the entire evening was deemed by executives as an inappropriate space for children (legally speaking) to be in.

Blue Ivy Carter at the 2026 Met GalaCredit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Nepo babies (the Kardashian-Jenners, Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, and Pamela Anderson's son Brandon) are not a new concept to the Met Gala. What also isn't is kids actually being a part of the festivities. There was once a time when Hollywood's youngsters, including Hailee Steinfeld and Elle Fanning, who made their debuts at 14 and 13, respectively (see the whole club here), were able to hang with the grown-ups, but that was all before the age limit was created.

In the eight years since 2018, their absence made room for asking ourselves, what would happen if literal kids became the stars of the show? And I think we saw it executed perfectly when two major stars and co-chairs bent the rules by bringing their under-18 kids.

Beyoncé's return to the Met Gala after 10 years was a cause for celebration in and of itself. I wasn't even on the carpet, but I could feel the excitement in the crescendoing screams through my laptop. But then, when her 14-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, entered the space, it was like all time had stopped. I felt literal chills. I was watching history in the making.

Advertisement

The superstar's mini-me cemented her status in a cool Balenciaga look paired with sunglasses, and was even able to hold her own in her very own moment with PEOPLE on the red carpet.

Another sweet moment was had with Nicole Kidman and her 17-year-old model daughter Sunday Rose. The two showed off their style prowess in colorful gowns courtesy of Chanel (Kidman) and custom Dior (Sunday). Viewers of the Vogue livestream were able to get a glimpse at their special mother-daughter bond in a joint interview, which we may not have gotten otherwise.

Sunday Rose and Nicole Kidman at the 2026 Met GalaCredit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

I think what really sold it for me was the moment when Beyoncé told reporters that the inspiration of the night was "family" (Jay-Z echoed the meaningful word as he wrapped his arms around his eldest daughter and wife). In that very moment, they weren't music's most formidable household; I was able to see my own parents and me (okay, they might disagree, but let me have my moment), and I felt all the emotions.

What I'm trying to say is, a family photo op at the Met Gala doesn't have to be cringe or remind you of Veruca Salt's meltdown in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The idea of the nepo baby is exhausting for us common folk, but when they arrive ready to make their mark, it can serve as a reminder that the future of fashion just might be alright. Ten years from now, we'll even look at this night as a lesson on what it takes to create a significant pop culture moment. Hey, wouldn't that be a fun theme?

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”