Inside Bad Bunny’s 2026 Met Gala Transformation: How Benito Built an Older Alter Ego

Bad Bunny didn’t show up to the 2026 Met Gala in a simple look. He arrived with a full character study.

On Monday, May 4, in New York City, Benito stepped onto the carpet appearing decades older: gray hair, deep facial lines, and a cane completing a sharply considered transformation. The Puerto Rican star’s concept aligned directly with the night’s “Costume Art” framework and the Costume Institute exhibition theme, The Aging Body, curated by Andrew Bolton.

Speaking with Vogue livestream host La La Anthony, Bad Bunny explained the impulse behind the look: “It’s getting a part of my life, trying to do something different. This day of the Met is a perfect day to explore and be creative and express yourself in a different way.”

He also leaned into humor about the scale of the project, joking that the idea took him “53 years exactly” to pull off. “It took a little bit, but it’s worth it. I hope I look good,” he added.

The transformation was built with prosthetic artist Mike Marino, whose work helped shape the aged face and skin texture. Benito paired the prosthetics with a custom black tuxedo he designed in collaboration with Zara, an oversized bow nodding to Charles James’ 1947 “Bustle” from the Costume Institute collection, and a 1995 Cartier watch.

The fashion moment lands during a historic run for the artist. His song “DtMF” recently set a new Hot Latin Songs record, logging 57 weeks at No. 1 and surpassing the 56-week mark previously held by “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber.

Bad Bunny is also set to resume his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, with the European leg beginning May 22 in Barcelona and concluding July 22 in Brussels.