Met Gala 2026 live updates: Anna Wintour, Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman: Stars take over the Red Carpet in New York

It’s the first Monday of May, and the Met Gala 2026 has finally arrived. Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the event has always been synonymous with couture and glamour. Among the few early guests who have arrived on the iconic red carpet are Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, Doja Cat, and Anna Wintour, blending high fashion with art. Stay tuned for live updates as the fashion's biggest night unfolds.

Early arrivals are already embracing the “Costume Is Art” theme. Co-chair Venus Williams stuns on the carpet, accessorising her look with statement jewellery.

Stars like Nicole Kidman, Cara Delevingne, Zuri Hall and Ashley Graham are leaning into sculpted, body-contouring looks on the red carpet.

Anna Wintour arrives in a green feathered ensemble, once again proving she is in charge of fashion’s biggest night.

This year’s exhibition is titled "Costume Art," while the official dress code is "Fashion Is Art." Honouring the theme, the attendees have explored fashion as a form of artistic expression, drawing inspiration from history, culture, and visual arts. As always, the 78th edition of the Met Gala sees a strong lineup of global A-listers, every invite personally approved by Anna Wintour.

Amid recent rumours about her engagement to British star Harry Styles, the actress made a glamorous red carpet appearance at the Met Gala. She kept her left hand tucked into her pocket, which made viewers believe that she might be hiding the ring.

Jisoo brings a breath of freshness to the carpet with DIOR, stepping out in a floral ensemble, and Katy Perry has shocked the viewers with her mask and shimmering look, mirroring her bright, pearly grin. Meanwhile, Rosé turns to fashion history for her custom Saint Laurent gown.

Irina Shayk has raised the temperature on the red carpet with a daring, midriff-baring ensemble, while Janelle Monáe makes a statement in a moss-hued look that fuses natural elements with futuristic design. Meanwhile, Maya Hawke completed her Prada look with twirls on the carpet.

Indian representation on the Met Gala carpet is already turning heads. Businesswoman and philanthropist Sudha Reddy made a dazzling entrance, wearing a rare 550-carat deep violet-blue tanzanite necklace, reportedly valued at over $15 million. Isha Ambani followed with a regal all-gold ensemble. Designer Manish Malhotra also made a powerful statement, wearing a deeply personal creation inspired by Mumbai, a classic bandhgala layered with a structured cape.

Kylie Jenner's debut on the carpet featured bleached brows alongside a sculpted Schiaparelli gown that perfectly fit the night’s body-contouring trend. Dwayne Johnson brings classic elegance in a Thom Browne suit, elevated with a standout diamond brooch, while Emily Blunt is seen with tasselled epaulettes and shimmering details. Anne Hathaway, wearing a black and white gown by Michael Kors, said, "When you get a little bit tired, I’m like, ‘Do you like the reason that you’re tired? And I appreciate it, because I’m sure some people don’t love the reason that they’re tired. I’m really into the reason that I’m tired, and it’s not gonna be this forever."

Sabrina Carpenter makes a striking entrance in a custom Jonathan Anderson creation for Dior, featuring camera film, and Serena Williams follows her sister Venus onto the carpet, dazzling in a silver Marc Jacobs. She completed her look with gold accents winding up her leg. Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber turns heads in a standout look inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic collaboration with sculptor Claude Lalanne from the late ’60s.

Cher posed alongside her goddaughter Jesse Jo Stark on the red carpet, and Sarah Paulson and Rachel Zegler both experimented with blindfold-inspired elements. At the same time, Alex Consani embraced sky-high heels while Doechii opted to go barefoot. Another attendee who caught the attention of the photographers was Olympian Eileen Gu. She arrived in an Iris Van Herpen mini dress crafted with thousands of delicate glass bubbles. And Tyla marks her third Met Gala appearance in a dramatic blue Valentino gown.

After Manish Malhotra, the Met Gala carpet saw entrepreneur Ananya Birla, another Indian, at the fashion event. She debuted in dramatic black couture and paired the look with a metallic face mask. Meanwhile, filmmaker Karan Johar turned heads in a custom ensemble inspired by the timeless works of Raja Ravi Varma, crafted by designer Manish Malhotra. Adding to the regal showcase, Gauravi Kumari and Padmanabh Singh arrived in elegant Indian attire, with the princess wearing a vintage chiffon saree passed down from her great-grandmother.

Ciara's look was inspired by Egyptian queen Nefertiti, perfectly complemented by Russell Wilson’s striking gold accents. The event also saw Teyana Taylor in a bold metallic Tom Ford ensemble. SZA made a creative statement in a look by Emily Adams Bode Aujla, featuring coin-like buttons and a skirt with vintage 19th-century German embellishments. Blake Lively arrived in an archival Atelier Versace, her voluminous gown drawing from Venetian Rococo art and Baroque architecture. Meanwhile, Madonna embraced a custom Saint Laurent look inspired by Leonora Carrington’s The Temptation of St. Anthony.

Heidi Klum delivered one of the night’s most unique looks, stepping out in a sculptural look that looked like carved stone. She completed her look with grey-toned body paint and a floral headpiece. While Bad Bunny was seen in a black suit, he added an unexpected twist with greyed-out hair, ageing makeup, and a cane, transforming him into an old man. Cardi B embraced a bold, body-centric silhouette in custom Marc Jacobs, drawing inspiration from the works of artist Hans Bellmer.

Beyoncé makes a grand arrival with Jay-Z and Blue Ivy. The singer looked dazzling in a shimmering, skeleton-inspired silver ensemble layered with feathers and a sparkling headpiece, while Blue Ivy opts for an elegant cream look and Jay-Z keeps it classic in a black tuxedo.

The Kardashian-Jenner clan made a striking statement at the Met Gala 2026. Following the theme of “Fashion Is Art,” each made an entry with their signature flair. Kendall Jenner was seen draped in a nude-toned gown by Zac Posen for GapStudio, featuring sculptural detailing, while Kylie Jenner opted for a fitting Schiaparelli couture look, pairing it with statement jewellery. Kim Kardashian went for a sculptural ensemble, leaning into the artistic brief with a bold, body-focused silhouette, while Kris Jenner was seen in a flowing kimono-inspired outfit with layered sleeves.

Rihanna made a typically dramatic late entrance, in a striking gold Maison Margiela creation that featured a sculptural silhouette inspired by recent couture archives, and A$AP Rocky complemented her look in a tailored ensemble with a statement robe coat. Meanwhile, BLACKPINK’s Lisa stepped out in a custom Robert Wun design, a shimmering sheer gown paired with a surreal headpiece featuring additional mannequin-like arms.