Must-see looks from the 2026 Met Gala

Truc Nguyen · CBC Life

· Posted: May 04, 2026 6:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

The intersection where art and fashion meet is being celebrated at the annual Met Gala, a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, takes place on the first Monday in May — ahead of the opening of the institute's marquee spring exhibition.

This year's exhibit, Costume Art, explores the relationship between bodies and clothing, and highlights connections between garments and objects across the museum's collection. The dress code, "Fashion is Art," reflects that theme and sets the tone for the evening's red carpet.

Beyond raising tens of millions of dollars for the New York City museum, the star-studded Met Gala has also become a must-see convergence of fashion insiders, A-list celebrities and the ultra-wealthy.

The announcement that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, would serve as honorary chairs and key sponsors of this year's Met Gala has prompted backlash and calls for a boycott from some groups.

Disdain for the new partnership with the billionaire couple builds on broader criticism of the Met Gala’s focus on wealth and exclusivity. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a longtime critic of those dynamics, said he’ll skip the event to focus on affordability in the city.

But plenty of stars are still expected to attend.

In addition to Vogue global editorial director Anna Wintour, this year's co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. Members of the host committee — including Sabrina Carpenter, Zoë Kravitz, Doja Cat and Teyana Taylor — are also expected, alongside a wide range of celebrities from fashion, film, television, music and sports.

Here are the best looks from the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, so far. We'll be updating this story throughout the evening, so check back for more.

Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain wore a hand-painted Mugler gown. (Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)

Podcaster, online influencer and creator Emma Chamberlain, who's serving as a Vogue red carpet correspondent again this year, wore a custom, multi-coloured, hand-painted Mugler gown with fringed sleeves.