MET GALA 2026

Bad Bunny serves hot grandpa energy in aged transformation at Met Gala

Safe to say Bad Bunny is still going to look good when he is 85

Bad Bunny at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

UPDATED MAY 5, 2026 3:44 AM EDTMAY 5, 2026, 3:44 AM EDT

The Met Gala is underway, and the biggest night in fashion came with some incredible surprises. Amid the Latinos in attendance was the one and only Bad Bunny. But you may not have recognized him at first. The singer time-traveled, arriving looking like somebody's hot grandpa.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Bad Bunny attends the 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images) — Bad Bunny even walked like an older man

Under the banner of Costume Art, the 2026 exhibition, and the chosen dress code, Fashion is Art, Benito arrived dressed as an 85-year-old version of himself with a silver wig replacing his signature curls, and hyper-realistic prosthetics created by Mike Marino to make him appear older.

Two anatomical models of human heads with masks, positioned on a table.

It was inspired by this year's Costume Institute exhibition theme, The Aging Body, curated by Andrew Bolton.

You may also like

The "Titi Me Pregunto" singer leaned fully into character with a custom all-black tuxedo of his own design, created with Zara. The oversized sculptural bow nodded to Charles James’ 1947 “Bustle,” pulling from the Costume Institute archive. He accessorized with Cartier, including an archival 1995 watch; the look played with time in both directions.

Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images) — The makeup was incredible

Every wrinkle and line was hand-sculpted after a deep conversation between Marino and Benito about how time would actually shape his face, neck, and hands.

Tattoo artist with tattoos on arms using a tattoo machine on a person's arm.

He even matched the look with his walk, carrying a sleek cane.

Talking to La La Anthony, for an interview in English, he kept it playful when asked how he keeps upping it every year. “I don’t know, it’s getting part of my life… always try to do something different,” he said.

“This day of the Met is a perfect day for you to explore and be creative and express yourself in a different way… so that’s what I’m doing tonight.”

Man with bald head and beard getting makeup and hair styled by two people.

And when she asked the obvious, how long did it take? He leaned into the concept completely: “53 years, exactly 53 years… so it took a little bit, but it’s worth it." "I hope I look good. Do I look good?” He asked.

Sculpted head with gray hair and beard, several pins on face, displayed on stand.

Before Benito even hit the carpet, Anna Wintour was already building anticipation. “I happen to know that Benito has really gone—he’s put a lot of thought into what he’s wearing. You will see,” she teased on the red carpet.

When asked if he had come to her for advice, she made it clear that wasn’t the case: “No, he’s very much his own man.” And she made it clear she was confident in it - “He made a brilliant choice, and I think it will surprise all of you.”

Bad Bunny has become a Met Gala regular since his first Met Gala in 2022. He was even the co-chair in 2024. Once inside, he will be surrounded by his famous friends like Marcello Hernandez and his famous ex, Kendall Jenner.