The Poignant Reason Why Bad Bunny Wore Old Man Makeup to the 2026 Met Gala
2 min readTHE RUNDOWN
- Bad Bunny attended the 2026 Met Gala on May 4 in New York City.
- He showed up wearing a black Zara suit and makeup designed to make him look 50 years older.
- The artist is known for his bold, statement-making red carpet style.
Bad Bunny took an unexpected approach to the 2026 Met Gala dress code this evening: He arrived on the red carpet sporting makeup that made him look like a much older man. The artist, 32, joked during an interview on the carpet that it “took 53 years” to create his ensemble for the evening.
Alongside the surprising makeup, Bad Bunny wore a custom all-black tuxedo of his own design in collaboration with Zara with a pussybow detail. It’s a reference to Charles James’s 1947 work “Bustle,” which is part of the Costume Institute’s permanent collection. He accessorized with a cane and Cartier jewelry, including an archival 1995 watch.
The intention behind the transformation, which was done by prosthetic makeup artist Mike Marino, was to make Bad Bunny look 50 years older, according to a press release. It’s a response to one of the sections in the “Costume Art” exhibit, which is “The Aging Body.” Marino and Bad Bunny closely collaborated on the look and discussed “how the passage of time may actually affect [Bad Bunny’s] face, neck, and hands.”
See a closer look at his transformation below.
The artist has become a regular presence at the Met Gala, known for approaching the red carpet with a distinct point of view that blends tailoring, cultural references, and theatrical elements. In 2025, he wore a brown Prada suit styled with embellished gloves and a custom Puerto Rican pava hat, a nod to his heritage.
Over the course of his career, Bad Bunny’s style has evolved from bold, logo-heavy streetwear to more refined takes on suiting, often offset with unexpected accessories like statement hats, sunglasses, and sculptural details. His Met Gala appearances have reflected that progression, including a white Jacquemus suit with a dramatic floral train in 2023.
Outside the Met steps, Bad Bunny has continued to use fashion as a form of expression tied to his identity and storytelling. During his 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance, he wore a custom all-white Zara look featuring a jersey with the number 64, which he later explained was a tribute to his late uncle.
“1964 is the year my uncle Cutito was born, my mother’s brother,” he said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “So during my halftime show, I decided to have him on my shirt: OCASIO, his last name, the same as my mother’s, and his birth year, 64.”