Stars stroll purple carpet on vogue’s largest evening of the 12 months
Chloe Mac Donnell
Howdy and welcome to the Met Gala dwell weblog 2026!
Chloe from the Guardian’s vogue desk right here. My colleague Lauren and I are right here to convey you all one of the best appears to be like, the doable questionable appears to be like and naturally, what everyone seems to be speaking about from this 12 months’s extravaganza.
For anybody unfamiliar with the occasion, a quick recap. For the style business the Met Gala is the equal of Hollywood’s Oscars or the Tremendous Bowl. It takes place yearly on the primary Monday in Might to mark the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork’s Costume Institute newest exhibition. Anna Wintour, the worldwide editorial director of Vogue and chief content material officer at writer Condé Nast, is liable for making the Met Gala what it’s – particularly the largest celebration in vogue and a profitable fundraiser for the Costume Institute.
This 12 months it’s even a much bigger deal as a result of it is going to additionally mark the opening of the Costume Institute’s new dwelling – a 12,000-sq-ft house named the Condé M Nast Galleries after the writer who made Vogue the vogue bible. Annually the exhibition has a selected theme. This 12 months it’s Costume Artwork which is able to discover “depictions of the dressed physique throughout the Met’s huge assortment, pairing clothes with artworks to disclose the inherent relationship between clothes and the physique”. You may learn extra about that right here.
The theme of the gala all the time takes its lead from the exhibition however it’s totally different to the exhibition (sure, we all know that is complicated!). This 12 months visitors have been given the gown code “Vogue is Artwork.” The blurb explains it is a second for attendees to “specific their very own relationship to vogue as an embodied artwork type and rejoice the numerous depictions of the dressed physique all through artwork historical past”.
So what can we anticipate? Nicely, some celebrities now take into account the physique itself an artwork work so there may very well be numerous bare dressing. You may think about some visitors may flip up holding an artwork work sporting one thing impressed by mentioned artwork work. Bear in mind in 1965 Yves Saint Laurent paid homage to Mondrian by making a collection of clothes impressed by his summary canvases so that you by no means know! Plus, the Met Gala has a popularity for individuals taking dangers on the carpet. Jared Leto dressed as a cat in honour of Karl Lagerfeld in 2023, Katy Perry arrived as a glow-up chandelier for 2019’s Camp theme whereas Rihanna channeled the pope in a mitre for 2018’s Heavenly Our bodies gown code.
As all the time it’s set to be starry as Wintour appoints a number of co-chairs to help her in overseeing the occasion. This 12 months they embrace Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. As Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez have supplied the vast majority of funding for each the exhibition and the gala, they’ve been given honorary chair titles. This has led to outrage from some activist teams. Our NYC readers could have already noticed anti-Bezos posters calling for a boycott of the gala positioned close to the museum and on the subway. There’s additionally anticipated to be some sort of protest outdoors the occasion itself, so watch this house.
In the meantime, some are rebranding it the “Tech Gala” due to a number of corporations hoovering up tickets. At $100,000-ish a pop for a person ticket (that’s up from $75,000 final 12 months) and tables fetching upwards of $300,000, who else can afford them? Meta, Snapchat, OpenAI, ShopMy and naturally, Amazon have all purchased tables. Final 12 months’s Met raised a document $31m, now we’re questioning if this 12 months’s might smash that document?
It is very important word that even if you happen to purchase a desk, you don’t have the ultimate say on who will be part of you. As a substitute every visitor must be accredited personally by Wintour. She additionally suggests varied names. Whereas the visitor checklist isn’t disclosed, we will anticipate to see appearances from the host committee, this 12 months led by Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello and Zoe Kravitz alongside members Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Consani, Misty Copeland, Teyana Taylor, A’ja Wilson, Chase Sui Marvel and Sam Smith. Plus would it not even be a Met Gala with no Kardashian/Jenner or two, even three?
One individual we received’t be seeing nonetheless, is New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Michael R Bloomberg, Invoice de Blasio and Eric Adams have all beforehand hotfooted it up the Met’s steps, however in an interview Mamdani mentioned whereas he cherished the Met his focus is “on affordability and making the most costly metropolis in america reasonably priced, and that’s what I’m trying to spend so much of my time targeted on”. A clever transfer maybe, contemplating the backlash Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez obtained (and nonetheless continues to get) when she attended in ‘21 sporting a “Tax the Wealthy” gown.
Inside visitors can anticipate a glance across the exhibition adopted by drinks, dinner and a shock efficiency. Earlier acts embrace Madonna and Rihanna, this 12 months there are rumours of Unhealthy Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and even Beyoncé.
OK, the primary arrivals are starting to trickle in. Apparently Wintour considers 10 minutes early, 10 minutes late – that explains the immediate begin. Buckle up!
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Up to date at 16.57 EDT
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Chloe Mac DonnellSinéad Burke attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Artwork” on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork on Might 04, 2026 in New York Metropolis. (Photograph by Mike Coppola/Getty Photos) {Photograph}: Mike Coppola/Getty Photos
Mannequins of the Irish incapacity advocate Sinéad Burke are included within the accompanying exhibition as a part of its representations of the Disabled Physique part. For tonight Burke who grew to become the primary little individual to attend the Met Gala in 2019 has chosen a black corseted robe with a sheer practice that she has been having fun with tossing round dramatically on the steps.
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Up to date at 18.40 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellKaty Perry attends the 2026 Met Gala on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork on 4 Might in New York Metropolis. {Photograph}: Theo Wargo/FilmMagic
Katy Perry has additionally obtained the masks memo. The web is describing her look as “giving fencing astronaut”. Let the memes start.
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Up to date at 18.38 EDT
Lauren CochraneGwendoline Christie poses in the course of the 2026 Met Gala in New York Metropolis on 4 Might. {Photograph}: Daniel Cole/Reuters
By no means let it’s mentioned that Gwendoline Christie doesn’t stick with the bit. Her Met Gala look, made by her associate, the designer Giles Deacon, was impressed by at least three artists: John Singer Sargent, surrealist photographer Madame Yevonde, and 70s poet and photographer Ira Cohen. If that wasn’t sufficient, the masks of her face that Christie is carrying was made by an precise artist – Turner prize winner Gillian Sporting. If this was assessed, Christie would get an A*.
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Up to date at 18.40 EDT
Lauren CochraneLuke Evans arrives on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork’s Costume Institute profit gala in New York. {Photograph}: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Luke Evans bringing a glance worthy of a Tom of Finland drawing to the Met Gala purple carpet is one thing we will all co-sign. If we have now had references to blue chip artists – Singer Sergent, Matisse, Artemisia – it’s even cooler to go counter-culture.
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Up to date at 18.30 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellJudith Slaying Holofernes, a portray by Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, at Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence. {Photograph}: Hemis/Alamy
And right here’s the inspiration behind Lena Dunham’s Valentino gown – the portray Judith Slaying Holofernes created by the Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi c 1620. Talking to Vogue, Dunham says: “I shared that inspiration with Alessandro, however as a result of his mind works in probably the most magical methods, quite than leaning into the Renaissance clothes or the swords or any of it, he was interested in a selected blood spatter on the neck of Holofernes.” Pinterest might by no means!
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Up to date at 18.29 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellLena Dunham attends the 2026 Met Gala on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork on 4 Might in New York Metropolis. {Photograph}: Mike Coppola/Getty Photos
After a eight-year hiatus, Lena Dunham is again on the Met Gala steps. Tonight she is sporting a placing sequinned and feathered gown from Valentino by Alessandro Michele. Dunham says she wrote “an elaborate fan letter” to Michele within the hope of persuading him to decorate her. A lot better than a textual content!
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Up to date at 18.25 EDT
Lauren CochraneNaomi Osaka attends the 2026 Met Gala in New York Metropolis. {Photograph}: David Fisher/Shutterstock
Shot by arrows, with the claws of a dragon and a hat that appears like a flying saucer, Naomi Osaka’s outfit looks like a tour via the pictures of artwork historical past, however there’s truly extra to it than that. The outfit, designed by Robert Wun, has two elements. The tennis professional will later take away the coat to disclose a gown utilising 659,000 stitches of embroidery and hundreds of Swarovski crystals illustrating the human anatomy. Speak about acing it.
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Up to date at 18.23 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellDoja Cat on the 2026 Met Gala in New York Metropolis on 4 Might. {Photograph}: Gilbert Flores/Selection/Getty Photos
Doja Cat loves a theme – particularly a Met Gala theme. Bear in mind that is the singer that beforehand dressed as a cat full with feline facial prosthetics in honour of Karl Lagerfeld. Tonight she has gone for a glance impressed by the traditional Greek statues that characteristic within the accompanying exhibition. Her fashionable take is by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent. On first look it appears to be like like latex, however it’s in reality silicone full with matching silicone platform mules. We think about it’s fairly squeaky.
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Up to date at 18.13 EDT
Lauren CochraneAnthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz attend the 2026 Met Gala on 4 Might in New York Metropolis. {Photograph}: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Photos
Half Velázquez, half highwaywoman, Zoë Kravitz’s outfit – created by Saint Laurent designer Anthony Vaccarello – offers good Met Gala. A cursory nod to the theme whereas additionally managing to look stylish and attractive, 10/10 no notes.
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Up to date at 18.06 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellAn in depth-up of Charli xcx’s Saint Laurent robe. {Photograph}: Julian Hamilton/Getty Photos
Right here’s a better take a look at Charli xcx’s Saint Laurent flower, which is in reality, an iris. Apparently it’s a reference to Yves Saint Laurent’s spring/summer time 1988 assortment the place the designer paid tribute to Vincent van Gogh. Talking to Vogue, Charli says: “My gown tonight has an iris flower made out of resin, stitched on to its middle. We’ve tried to sort of mirror that within the make-up through the use of extra sheer and translucent tones to replicate the resin.”
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Up to date at 18.03 EDT
Lauren CochraneSergey Brin poses in the course of the Met Gala in New York Metropolis on 4 Might. {Photograph}: Daniel Cole/Reuters
Again to Sergey Brin – and his lapel. That includes an Iranian flag, with the lion and the solar symbols there pre-1979 revolution, it’s the first overtly political transfer at a Met Gala purple carpet preceded by probably the most controversy the occasion has had for years. Eyes peeled for extra.
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Up to date at 18.00 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellCharli xcx attends the 2026 Met Gala in New York on 4 Might. {Photograph}: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Photos
Right here’s the OG brat, Charli xcx. The singer is sporting a strapless black robe by Saint Laurent with what appears to be like like a glass flower stem blossoming throughout the bodice.
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Up to date at 17.55 EDT
Lauren CochraneMet Gala 2026, Costume Artwork, Arrivals, The Metropolitan Museum of Artwork, New York, USA – 04 Might 2026
Christian Cowan and Sam Smith
Met Gala 2026, Costume Artwork, Arrivals, The Metropolitan Museum of Artwork, New York, USA – 04 Might 2026 {Photograph}: Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Sam Smith’s arrival with designer Christian Cowan is correct Met Gala stuff. This black robe, full with headpiece designed by Stephen Jones, is impressed by vogue illustrator Erte. The quote on Cowan’s instagram says all of it: “artwork isn’t a factor; it’s a method”. Info.
ShareLauren CochraneAl Sharpton attends the 2026 Met Gala in New York Metropolis on 4 Might. {Photograph}: John Salangsang/BEI/Shutterstock
Rev Al Sharpton, the 71-year-old civil rights activist, hasn’t essentially appeared on the artwork theme however his swimsuit with pinstripe sequins appears to be like nice and reveals that generally easy actually is one of the best.
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Up to date at 17.50 EDT
Sergey Brin and Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto on the 2026 Met Gala in New York Metropolis on 4 Might. {Photograph}: Gilbert Flores/Selection/Getty Photos
The tech crowd might be all the time going to get enthusiastic about an opportunity to go a bit wild for a vogue purple carpet. Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s swimsuit has recreated Matisse-style drawings in blue sequins and he appears to be like very happy about it. His associate, wellness influencer Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, is matching, sporting feathers and a clutch bag within the color of Google.
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Up to date at 17.40 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellLéna Mahfouf attends the 2026 Met Gala in New York Metropolis on 4 Might. {Photograph}: David Fisher/Shutterstock
Usually celebrities are requested “who’re they sporting” on the purple carpet. For the French content material creator and podcaster Léna Mahfouf tonight that query is: “Whose palms are you sporting?”
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Up to date at 17.38 EDT
Venus Williams, gala co-chair, in a traditional black robe
Lauren CochraneVenus Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork on 4 Might in New York Metropolis. {Photograph}: Theo Wargo/FilmMagic
Co-chair Venus Williams goes for a traditional black robe however brings the artwork reference in her necklace – made by Swarovski, it recreates the one worn by her youthful self in Robert Pruitt’s 2022 portray of the tennis star. Sticking to the artwork theme whereas additionally going barely meta? High marks.
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Up to date at 17.35 EDT
Chloe Mac DonnellSunday Rose Kidman City and Nicole Kidman attend the 2026 Met Gala on the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork on 4 Might in New York Metropolis. {Photograph}: John Shearer/WireImage
A candy second between Nicole Kidman and her daughter Sunday Rose earlier than they ascend the Met’s grand staircase. It’s Sunday Rose’s first Met Gala and the mannequin is sporting a reasonably pink robe by Dior with placing floral appliqué detailing.
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Up to date at 17.25 EDT
