Venus Williams Makes Statement at Met Gala 2026 in Custom Swarovski Gown Honoring Tennis Legacy

Venus Williams stepped onto the red carpet at the 2026 Met Gala on Monday evening with husband Andrea Preti, delivering a fashion moment rooted in artistic vision and personal legacy.

The 45-year-old tennis champion paired her custom Swarovski mesh gown—styled by Ron Burton—with a necklace that carries deep significance. According to Vogue, the piece recreates a design seen in Robert Pruitt's "Venus Williams, Double Portrait (2022)," a portrait commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. The necklace incorporates family symbols, career milestones, and references to the historic fight for equal pay in tennis, alongside tributes to early Black tennis champions.

"It reflects not just my journey, but the legacy of those who came before me—especially pioneers like Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, who paved the way," Williams told Vogue. "It felt like a personal way to connect with 'Costume Art'—using fashion to tell a story about legacy and progress, and honoring those who made it possible."

Williams, 37, completed his ensemble with Allen Edmonds shoes for the evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

In a conversation with People, Williams described her look as "radiant" and highlighted the comfort factor. "It's going to be a spectacle without being spectacle. Get ready; head to toe, it's going to be awesome," she said.

The annual Met Gala celebrates the museum's latest exhibition on costume and art, with this year's theme "Fashion is Art." The dress code invites attendees to explore the intersection of fashion and artistic expression. The evening's co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Following the gala, Williams made a low-key appearance at the Harlem location of Raising Cane's, where she ordered a Box Combo featuring chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, lemonade, and sweet tea.