Each year, on the first Monday in May, the Metropolitan Museum of Art becomes the epicentre of fashion’s most theatrical night. But while the red carpet for the annual invitation-only event often commands the spotlight, the true heart of the Met Gala lies inside: within the Costume Institute’s upcoming spring exhibition. For 2026, that exhibition—titled “Costume Art”—is set to pair select historical garments from the Costume Institutes vast collection with art objects spanning more than 5,000 years. Yet among the couture and historical artefacts, one unexpected element has quietly become the upcoming show’s most fascinating feature: the mannequins themselves. Special mannequins are on display throughout the exhibition that represent differently sized and abled bodies. Each of the bespoke mannequins are crowned with steel heads with a smooth reflective mirror surface in lieu of a face.…