It’s the first Monday in May, which of course can only mean one thing: the Met Gala is here. The 2026 extravaganza kicked off Monday evening on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, this year celebrating the Costume Institute’s exhibition “Costume Art.”
Emma Chamberlain was the night’s first arrival, posing in a custom Mugler gown.
Lala Anthony, also a livestream host and therefore an early attendee, waved to the crowd across the street who cheered at the acknowledgement.
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“Eh, a 2,” she guessed, when asked how comfortable her Weiderhoft corset gown was on a scale of 1 to 10.
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Arriving to the carpet the same time as Anna Wintour and Chloe Malle was the night’s controversial honorary chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos, wearing Schiaparelli. Jeff Bezos himself was nowhere in sight.
“I’m nervous!” one of the night’s hosts, Nicole Kidman, said. Clad in Chanel, Kidman walked the carpet with model daughter Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, who wore Dior.
Chase Sui Wonders was singing the praises of her lilac McQueen gown, just as she accidentally brushed it a little too close with her jewels and the diamonds snagged. Luckily, she was mostly done with photos already.
“Should I get a few solo?” Sam Smith asked partner and Met look designer Christian Cowan, who happily stepped aside to let Smith pose.
“He made it!” Zoë Kravitz said of her black lacy Saint Laurent gown, pointing to its designer Anthony Vaccarello.
“Let me go say hi to Zoë,” Gayle King said.
“Are you watching the Knicks?” Ben Stiller was asked, to which the die-hard fan motioned to his phone, suggesting he’d be streaming from the gala.
Damson Idris and Tory Burch shook hands and introduced themselves. Lindsey Vonn walked with a custom Thom Browne cane, hand in hand with the designer. Kylie Jenner, in Schiaparelli, requested photos from lower down on the stairs.
Olivia Wilde wore a Thom Browne look that featured a dramatic rear bump. As for how she’ll sit in the look come dinner? “We’ll see,” she said.
“Sorry! No I’m huge!” Maya Hawke said to Vonn, after nearly running into her with her full Prada skirt.
“Hi best friend!” Alex Consani told Paloma Elsesser. “You look so fab!”
“Over your shoulder Sabrina!” A photographer called out to Carpenter. “I can’t turn my neck that far!” she replied back.
“Fashion is art, and the body is also art,” Gabrielle Union declared, wearing Michael Kors.
“It’s a warm year!” Zac Posen said after deeply exhaling, having handed date Kendall Jenner off to the Vogue livestream.
Sarah Paulson was the most obvious statement of the night, wearing a dollar bill blindfold that she said was about “the 1 percent.”
“She said she wanted them double the height,” Marc Jacobs said of the shoes he made for Cardi B. “Because I’m short!” She replied.
Of course, the star of the night was Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, who returned to the Met after 10 years away, this time as a host and with Jay-Z and Blue Ivy in tow.