Met Gala 2026: Best Looks Red Carpet

The Met Gala 2026 live updates and the best looks as they unfold—because if there’s one night fashion never misses, it’s this one. The page will be updated throughout the day.

The first Monday of May once again turned the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art into fashion’s most theatrical stage as the Met Gala 2026 unfolded on 4 May 2026. With the theme “Costume Art” and a dress code titled “Fashion Is Art”, the 2026 edition of the gala encouraged guests to approach fashion as a form of visual storytelling rather than simple glamour. The result was a red carpet filled with sculptural silhouettes, dramatic references, exaggerated textures, and ensembles that often felt closer to performance pieces than traditional couture. Instead of merely dressing for the occasion, many attendees appeared to step into characters, treating the famous Met steps almost like a theatrical stage.

As always, the guest list remained one of the evening’s biggest attractions. Leading the gala this year were co-chairs Anna Wintour, who has remained the defining force behind the event for decades, alongside Beyoncé, whose return to the Met Gala after nearly a decade instantly became one of the evening’s biggest talking points. Joining them were Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams, both figures long associated with elegance. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos stepped in as honorary co-chairs.

THE FASHION

Yet beyond the celebrity appearances and internet frenzy, this year’s Met Gala felt rooted in a larger conversation about fashion’s place within art and culture. The evening wasn’t simply about who looked the best, but about who fully embraced the idea of fashion as expression. And on a night built around costume, the most memorable looks were inevitably the ones that understood that fashion, at its best, has always been a form of art.

From over-the-top couture to deeply personal style moments, it was all about creativity, drama, and making an impact—and honestly, we’re still not over it. With a global guest list of cultural icons, designers, and tastemakers, the night delivered exactly what we expected—high drama, high fashion, and looks that will define the conversation for months to come.

Below, read on for The Style List’s best dressed stars at the 2026 Met Gala.

Hailey Bieber in Saint Laurent kept it sleek and sharp.

Hailey Bieber shines in a Greek-inspired gold armour Saint Laurent look

Zoë Kravitz in Saint Laurent

Sombr in Valentino made a striking cape statement.

Sombr made his Met Gala debut in a Valentino cape that took over 500 hours to create.

Nicole Kidman in Chanel wore a ruby-sequinned gown crafted over 800 hours.

Nicole Kidman in a bespoke red Chanel gown—its striking sequin work feels like a bold homage to the energy of the Big Apple.

Georgina Rodríguez wore a corseted Jean Paul Gaultier gown with a mesh veil, rose embroidery, and train, styled with a rosary and soft waves

Georgina Rodríguez showed off her massive diamond engagement ring from Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 Met Gala.

Chase Infiniti in Thom Browne wore a trompe l’oeil gown inspired by Venus de Milo, crafted with 1.5 million sequins.

Chase Infiniti in a trompe l’oeil Thom Browne dress, inspired by the ancient Greek Venus de Milo—brought to life with 1.5 million stacked sequins and tiered silk fringes in over 600 colours.

Rihanna in Maison Margiela closed the night in a sculptural gown inspired by medieval architecture in Flanders—saving one of the best for last.

Beyoncé in Balmain by Olivier Rousteing delivered a striking silvery skeleton look.

Beyoncé's return to the Met Gala red carpet after a ten-year hiatus in a custom Olivier Rousteing creation resembling a bedazzled skeleton, topped by an extra-long feather cape.

Cardi B In Marc Jacobs

Cardi was bold and on-theme… but borderline too much. There’s a thin line between art and overload.

Kim Kardashian in Allen Jones x Whitaker Malem wore a high-gloss body armour look.

Kim Kardashian wore a striking body armour look by Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem, featuring a sculpted high-gloss breastplate inspired by his 1978 Body Armour work.

Blake Lively in archival Versace proved that pastels can still command the spotlight.

Blake Lively wore a pastel Atelier Versace gown with sculptural, architectural details inspired by 18th-century Venetian Rococo art.

Babyface in LaQuan Smith kept it sharp in crystal-embellished tailoring.

SZA in Bode brought maximalist drama in a sunshine-hued gown.

At the Met Gala 2026, SZA wore a glowing yellow Bode gown crafted from over 100 yards of vintage fabrics sourced on eBay.

Anne Hathaway in a Michael Kors Collection delivered a hand-painted gown moment—an undeniable winner.

Anne Hathaway stuns in a hand-painted Michael Kors gown paired with a Bulgari high jewellery necklace, inspired by the poem Ode to a Grecian Urn.

Sabrina Carpenter in Dior leaned into cinematic storytelling.

Sabrina Carpenter in a glossy Dior gown that’s actually made from strips of film taken from the 1954 Sabrina starring Audrey Hepburn.

Colman Domingo in Valentino brought theatrical elegance.

Isha Ambani in a Gaurav Gupta wore a jewellery-integrated couture saree

Isha Ambani wore a custom Gaurav Gupta couture featuring a jewellery-integrated blouse set with over 1,800 carats of heirloom diamonds and gemstones, paired with a gold-woven tissue saree, blending centuries of Indian craftsmanship into a contemporary couture masterpiece.

Simone Ashley wore a draped chain-link gown by Stella McCartney, blending fluidity with edge.

Eileen Gu in Iris van Herpen

Eileen Gu was the standout at the Met Gala 2026. She made a striking entrance in a whimsical 30-pound mini dress by Iris van Herpen, covered in 15,000 glass bubbles—and yes, complete with a real bubble machine.

Kylie Jenner in Schiaparelli delivered a heavily embellished couture moment.

Kylie Jenner in Schiaparelli—bleached brows and all, in a couture gown that took 11,000 hours of embroidery, featuring 10,000 baroque pearls and 7,000 painted pearlescent fish scales.

Louisa Jacobson in Dilara Findikoglu channelled a modern-day Joan of Arc in a chainmail-inspired look, finished with a dramatic chiffon ruff.

Jeremy Pope in vintage Vivienne Westwood brought archival drama with a corseted, heavily embellished jacket.

Bee Carrozzini in Givenchy embraced delicate, artistic embroidery and fringe.

Anok Yai in Balenciaga served sculptural minimalism.

Anok Yai’s Balenciaga look reimagined the Black Madonna through sculptural couture and haunting prosthetic beauty.

Emma Chamberlain in Mugler embraced art-in-process through layered chiffon.

Emma Chamberlain with Miguel Castro Freitas in Mugler—a gown inspired by a painter at work. The many chiffon layers in the skirt showed the process of creating art, not just the final look.

Cara Delevingne in Ralph Lauren kept it classic with a twist.

Cara Delevingne brought drama to the Met Gala in an LBD adorned with 10,000 crystals and a completely sheer back silhouette.

Venus Williams in Swarovski wore a personal, symbol-rich crystal look.

Venus Williams wore a Swarovski by Giovanna Engelbert—a black mesh crystal gown with a sculpted silhouette and bold silver-diamond necklace, blending personal heritage with her journey as an athlete.

Lauren Wasser in Prabal Gurung delivered a gilded goddess moment.

Lauren Wasser made her Met Gala debut with her signature gold prosthetic legs on full display — itfelt like a modern goddess moment.

Gwendoline Christie in Giles Deacon embraced artistic references through couture.

Jon Batiste in ERL opted for a Grecian-inspired all-white look.

Sabine Getty in Ashi Studio blurred the line between art and reality.

Camila Mendes, in a Manish Malhotra wore a mahogany couture gown inspired by Amrita Sher-Gil.

Gigi Hadid in Miu Miu delivered effortless glamour.

Gigi Hadid in crystal-covered Miu Miu, making sheer dressing look like fine art.

Ejae in Swarovski blended heritage with sculpture.

Ejae in Swarovski—a shimmering custom look inspired by Venus de Milo and “기녀,” referencing the courtesans of Korea’s Joseon era.

Janelle Monáe in Christian Siriano merged tech and nature.

Janelle Monáe arrived at the Met Gala in a futuristic couture look made from electrical cables, moss, and mechanical butterflies.

Lisa in Robert Wun leaned into avant-garde couture.

Lisa’s Met Gala dress used illusion-like 3D arms to create the effect of multiple gestures within one look

Naomi Watts in Dior delivered a floral fantasy.

Naomi Watts in Dior—a strapless black gown covered in blooms, giving full floral fantasy and looking as pretty as a painting.

KUN in Thom Browne embodied the “Vital Body.”

KUN in Thom Browne—dressed as the “Vital Body” from the Met Gala 2026, with one side covered in over 400,000 sequins and beads to mirror the circulatory system—literally bringing the look to life.

Jisoo in Dior stayed true to classic couture.

Ananya Birla made her debut in Robert Wun x Subodh Gupta, merging couture with sculpture.

Ananya Birla’s Met Gala 2026 debut featured a sculptural Robert Wun ensemble paired with a striking armour-like mask by Subodh Gupta, transforming everyday Indian silverware into an extraordinary couture statement.

Doechii's second-ever Met Gala was a twist on the naked dress with Marc Jacobs.

Beauty Deserves its own spotlight

The Met Gala 2026 beauty looks were just as iconic as the fashion—think sculpted skin, bleached brows, bold eyes, glossy finishes, and hair that felt like wearable art. From sharp winged liners and dramatic eyes to bleached brows, this year’s glam is bold, experimental, and impossible to ignore.

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