Nicole Kidman may not be the most regular of Met Gala attendees (she’s only gone six times...so far). And while that may seem like a lot, for someone who has been in the public eye as long as Kidman, it’s pretty sparse. That being said, when the actor does attend, she does so with style and authority. On two of the occasions she’s walked the Met carpet, she not only cohosted, but was dressed by her fellow cohosts, Karl Lagerfeld and Tom Ford (the latter, during his Gucci era). This year, Kidman is once again taking on co-hosting duty, meaning a return to the steps is imminent. Will she wear Balenciaga for the third time in a row? Or, surprise us all and go in a completely different direction? While we wait and see, let’s take a look back at Kidman’s Met Gala sartorial history.

2025: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”

Nicole Kidman paired her drop-waist, tea-length Balenciaga couture dress with a short ’do at the 2025 Met Gala.

2024: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”

Kidman also wore Balenciaga to the 2024 event. Her dress—designed by Demna—was inspired by one created by Cristobal Balenciaga himself for the house’s spring 1951 collection. The original was made famous by supermodel Dorian Leigh in a Harper’s Bazaar image by Richard Avedon. This new version took 800 hours of hand embroidery and the application of 150 meters of silk organza to create. “The gown creates a natural full circle moment of time—it’s a celebration of Richard’s work that will live on, but also, an acknowledgment of Balenciaga’s artistic vision that continues to seamlessly blend the illusion of past, present, and future,” Kidman told Vogue.

2023: “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”

Prior to 2023, Kidman hadn’t shown up to the Met Gala in several years. But she RSVP’d “Yes” to the year that celebrated Karl Lagerfeld. As anyone with a television in the early ‘00s remembers, Kidman was the face of Chanel No. 5 and starred in a lavish commercial for the fragrance.

Kidman certainly remembered. She re-wore one of the dresses from that very commercial.

The night also gave her a chance to reunite with Baz Luhrmann who not only directed that Chanel ad, but also Moulin Rouge.

2016: “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”

In 2016, Nicole Kidman wore an Alexander McQueen gown that was quite literally celestial. Creative director Sarah Burton customized the dress based on a sheer version that was shown during the brand’s fall 2016 runway show.

The gown’s elaborate cape added to the drama without resembling a costume. The look drew comparisons to the classic Art Deco-era work of the Russian-French artist and designer Erté.

The year was also notable as it marked the first year Kidman attended the Met Gala with a date from her personal romantic life. She brought then-husband Keith Urban, who let his wife take all the attention by opting for a classic white-tie tuxedo.

2005: “The House of Chanel”

Karl Lagerfeld famously did not consent to a retrospective of his own career during his lifetime, but he did cohost the Met Gala alongside Kidman in 2005 for an exhibition and gala dedicated to the history of the House of Chanel. Kidman, of course, was then the face of the brand’s iconic fragrance, Chanel No. 5. And naturally, she showed up in Chanel haute couture.

The gown came with a few hidden tricks. It had a dramatic leg slit and was lined in silver. If you appreciate no other detail, please take note of the fact that the silver lining matches Lagerfeld’s fingerless gloves.

Kidman truly leaned into proper hosting duties. Here, she, Lagerfeld, and Wintour greet Michael Kors and his date for the evening, Jessica Simpson.

2003: “Goddess: The Classical Mode”

Kidman was not only one of the earliest A-listers to spot Tom Ford’s talent at Gucci, but she cohosted the 2003 event alongside him. That year was a tribute to “Goddesses,” and Kidman certainly dressed like one in a gown that was a perfect exemplification of Ford’s knack for sophisticated sex appeal. Kidman was all covered up, but the draping of the dress recalled bosom-baring classical sculptures.

Long before the “Jason Derulo has fallen down the stairs at the Met Gala” meme existed, Adrian Brody actually did take a tumble at the Met. Don’t worry, everything was fine—but the moment did provide a nice look at the back of Kidman’s gown.

Once again, she was on her best hosting manors alongside Wintour, Ford, and Brody. For the record, though they stuck close together that night, Kidman and Brody never dated. However, they had both just won their Oscars a few months before.

Kidman was in good company that night. Ford also dressed another goddess, Diana Ross.