Hollywood’s brightest stars left little to the imagination as they descended on New York City for Heidi Klum’s legendary Halloween party, celebrating a quarter-century of the annual fright-night extravaganza. From racy red-carpet ensembles and jaw-dropping cinematic transformations to outrageous pop-culture tributes, the A-list guests pulled out all the stops as they competed to outdo one another at Saturday night’s high-profile gathering.
While the scantily clad arrivals certainly gave photographers plenty to feast their eyes on, there was only ever going to be one standout of the evening. Klum, marking the milestone 25th anniversary of her famous bash, did not disappoint, arriving at Cathédrale restaurant in a stomach-churning, meticulously engineered transformation that turned her into a bloody, oversized human hand.
The German supermodel became a gigantic, gruesome replica of her own severed left hand, complete with enormous, wrinkled fingers, long red nails, dangling artificial tendons, and fake blood dripping from a gaping mouth. Only her eyes and face were visible through the elaborate prosthetics, while assistants dressed in blood-stained hazmat suits helped navigate her through the venue. The look was masterminded by her longtime special-effects collaborator Mike Marino, founder of Prosthetic Renaissance, with the complex creation taking months of planning and roughly four months to construct.
Klum later stripped away the outer layer of the massive costume to unveil a second look that was just as horrific, pairing gory facial prosthetics and a blonde wig with her existing set of massive, finger-like leg prosthetics. She revealed that getting into the creation took approximately five to six hours, admitting that carrying the enormous costume was particularly challenging and occasionally claustrophobic. Even her wedding jewelry was faithfully recreated as part of the look, including replicas of her engagement and wedding rings, as well as the tattoo of husband Tom Kaulitz’s name on her ring finger. On the red carpet, a member of her entourage hilariously kept her hydrated with a syringe of liquid shot straight into her gaping, bloody mouth. The model’s legs were cleverly hidden within the hand’s middle and ring fingers, while she was able to slide one arm securely into the thumb.
Klum’s annual celebration has long been known for setting the gold standard of celebrity Halloween transformations. In previous years, the supermodel has stunned fans by turning into a towering alien, a glamorous peacock, Princess Fiona from Shrek, E.T., and Medusa from Clash of the Titans. Perhaps her most viral moment came in 2022, when she arrived as a realistic earthworm that slithered along the red carpet, a look that also involved Marino and left her completely unrecognizable beneath heavy layers of prosthetics. At the time, her husband Tom Kaulitz completed the theme by dressing as a fisherman.
Beyond the host’s theatrical display, the star-studded guest list brought a diverse array of iconic characters, historical pop-culture figures, and cinematic references to life. Among the most daring arrivals was model Vanessa Fuchs, who turned heads in a pink wig, purple lingerie-style outfit with white fringe, and a dramatic white fur coat, channeling Natalie Portman’s character Alice from the 2004 film Closer. Model Hayley Kalil brought cartoon glamour to the red carpet as the famously voluptuous Jessica Rabbit, complete with a classic animated aesthetic.
Model Kim Hnizdo also made a striking entrance in a metallic silver corset and matching underwear, completing her provocative ensemble with white body paint and showcasing a baby bump. Meanwhile, transgender Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio channeled comic-book villain Poison Ivy, bringing a seductive dose of green glamour to the gathering in a look reminiscent of Uma Thurman’s portrayal in 1997’s Batman & Robin. Laura Abla literally turned heads as she paid homage to Madonna’s infamous MTV Video Music Awards kiss with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, wearing a striking black corset-inspired ensemble accompanied by two friends who recreated Britney and Christina’s iconic white lace outfits with matching pouts.
Nostalgia also played a major role in the evening’s wardrobe choices. Samuel Williamson made a stylish appearance alongside his date, Alexa Hendricks, with the pair embracing Disney romance by dressing as Hercules and Megara. Taylor Momsen went in a drastically different direction, rocking a black guitar while dressing as AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, while her companion Steph Gomez joined her as frontman Brian Johnson. Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka embraced classic horror cinema, arriving as the creepy twin girls from Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of The Shining.
Kyle MacLachlan and his wife Desiree Gruber offered a nod to classic cinema and television, with MacLachlan referencing his villainous role in the 1994 live-action Flintstones movie, while Gruber dressed as a pink pirate. They were joined by their son, Callum Lyon MacLachlan, who wore a varsity letter jacket and carried a vintage baseball.
Music legends and icons were heavily represented throughout the venue. The Roots drummer Questlove arrived outfitted in San Francisco 49ers gear, including a bedazzled jersey bearing Ricky Pearsall’s number 14. Will & Grace star Eric McCormack transformed into Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, wearing a fake mustache alongside a black leather jacket, white tank top, and dark jeans—a look mirrored by actress Luise Grossmann, who opted for the tank top and mustache combination without the jacket. Alexis Stone stepped out dressed as Michael Jackson in his later years, while Jonathan Goldsmith, the longtime pitchman known as The Most Interesting Man in the World from Dos Equis commercials, walked the red carpet in character.
Other notable transformations included influencer and singer Chase Hudson, performing as Huddy, who looked chilling as Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, complete with a pinstriped suit, pale blue button-down shirt, and fake blood dripping down his temples and cheeks. French influencer and model Bach Buquen covered his face and torso in red paint, sporting shaved-down forehead horns, a leather duster, and leather pants to become Hellboy. Singer Jade Thirlwall wore one of the evening’s most intricate and heavy costumes, transforming into a stone angel or gargoyle with gray body paint and massive feathered wings.
Makeup influencer James Charles was entirely unrecognizable as the villain Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove, while fashion photography icon Ellen von Unwerth looked elegant in a spooky black lace dress and feathered hat. Girls star Andrew Rannells and partner Tuc Watkins appeared as sailors risen from watery graves, draped in nets and chains. Photographer Antoine Verglas wore a white suit with a matching cowboy hat, large white-frame sunglasses, and a pink feather boa, while model Shaun Ross donned a black leather jumpsuit with blood dripping from his mouth. German model Rebecca Mir channeled The Matrix with a shiny black duster, and transgender actress and activist Lux Pascal wore a black lace dress paired with striking mime-style black-and-white facial paint. Francesca Scorsese, daughter of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, put on a dramatic display in a gray-and-blue corset-style dress.
The host’s children also fully embraced the festive spirit of the night. Leni Klum donned a pig nose, ears, long blonde hair, and a pale-pink robe to become Miss Piggy from The Muppets, while Johan dressed as a zombie in a nod to Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video, and Lou rocked a purple superhero outfit as Starfire from Teen Titans.
Other prominent celebrity attendees spotted inside the party included Paris Jackson, Ice-T and his wife Coco Austin, Tuc Watkins, Madelaine Petsch, and Jennifer Yepez, who stunned in a bedazzled two-piece outfit.
As the night unfolded, Klum shared glimpses of her monumental transformation with her 12.7 million followers on Instagram, posting footage alongside the caption, "TALK TO THE HAND 👁️ #HeidiHalloween 2026 HERE WE GO." Having established the annual tradition back in 2000, the supermodel once again cemented her status as the undisputed queen of Halloween, leaving guests and fans alike wondering how she could possibly top the spectacle next year.
