Fashion’s biggest night returned on Monday 4th May 2026, as the Metropolitan Museum of Art once again hosted its annual celebration of fashion. But this year’s Met Gala arrived with a different tone, shaped by wider debate around its cultural positioning and Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos’ association with the event.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Among noted absences from this year’s Met Gala were Zendaya, a previous co-chair and Met Gala mainstay, and Lady Gaga, a 2019 co-chair. On the other hand, tech bros showed up — including Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegal, and Charles Porch representing AI — check in hand. Even if the event has long been considered pay-to-play, this year it reached new heights. Ticket prices reportedly rose from around $75,000 in 2025 to approximately $100,000 per guest, with tables costing upwards of $350,000, with proceeds supporting the Costume Institute.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Still, the focus stayed firmly on the clothes — and the night delivered. This year’s Met Gala theme was anchored by the spring 2026 exhibition Costume Art, which explores the relationship between fashion and art through the idea of the dressed body.
The dress code, Fashion is Art, encouraged broad interpretation. With all-eyes on co-chairs Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, the red carpet set the tone for an evening where interpretation ranged from literal artistic references to more conceptual statements.
Image courtesy: @Voguemagazine
Handbags are rarely a focal point on the red carpet, and this Met Gala was no exception. With highly embellished, statement-making looks dominating the steps, accessories were largely kept to a minimum. Where bags did appear, they were few and far between — but when they did, they still managed to hold their own.
Let’s take a look at the standout looks and accessories of the night.
Chanel: Matthieu Blazy’s Met Gala debut
Chanel delivered some of the evening’s standout looks, the first of Matthieu Blazy era.
Image courtesy: @chanelofficial
House ambassador and co-chair Nicole Kidman leaned into full Moulin Rouge glamour in a red sequin and feather-trimmed gown. Lily-Rose Depp followed in an embellished pastel gown, paired with baby blue slingbacks finished with Chanel’s signature black toe cap. She completed the look with Chanel High Jewelry, including the Plume Singulière de Chanel necklace worn as a brooch in 18-karat white gold and diamonds, alongside the Plume 1932 and Jeanne rings in white gold and diamonds.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Image courtesy: WWD
Image courtesy: WWD
Gold proved a recurring Chanel motif for the evening, with Margot Robbie wearing a strapless gown with a sweeping train that reportedly required 761 hours of atelier work and close to 1,100 embroidered details. While Gracie Abrams appeared in a gold Chanel look inspired by a Gustav Klimt painting, paired with a classic Wallet on Chain at the after party.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Image courtesy: Vogue
Image courtesy: @Voguemagazine
Margot Robbie went a little more casual for the after-party, switching into a white tank top and jeans, paired with a statement shimmering jacket from the Chanel Fall-Winter 2026 runway, and red CC adorned clutch.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Jennie opted for a softer take on sparkle in a pale blue column dress that, according to Vogue, took 540 hours to create and featured 15,000 embroidered elements. While not carried on the carpet itself, she was spotted exiting The Mark Hotel with a silver-tone oyster-inspired Minaudière from the Métiers d’Art 2026 collection.
Image courtesy: @lofficielsingapore
Then came A$AP Rocky. One of Chanel’s newer ambassadors, he arrived in a pink wool robe finished with black satin lapels and trim, punctuated by a black silk and feather camélia. Completing the look, he carried the pomegranate-shaped Minaudière from the Métiers d’Art 2026 collection.
Image courtesy: @Voguemagazine
For the after party, A$AP Rocky switched gears into a Fall-Winter 2026 ready-to-wear look.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Awar Odhiang and Bhavitha Mandava, both Chanel models, appeared in head-to-toe Chanel looks. Notably, Bhavitha Mandava wore a Spring 2026 Couture look resembling a shirt and jeans, though far from ordinary, crafted in ultra-fine silk for an ulrta-refined take.
Image courtesy: @checkthetag
Handbag Highlights of Met Gala 2026
Sunday Rose Kidman Urban made her Met Gala debut in a custom two-piece by Dior, designed by Jonathan Anderson, detailed with three-dimensional floral embellishments. The look was styled with the Bow Bag in Rose Songe from the Spring–Summer 2026 collection.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Another of Jonathan Anderson’s Bow Bag styles also hit the carpet. Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto complemented her blue and white dress with the Dior Petit Dîner Bag in Delphinium suede goatskin.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Jisoo of BLACKPINK wore a custom Dior design by Jonathan Anderson on the carpet, continuing her longstanding role as a house ambassador. The heavily adorned dress was paired with a Small Lady D-Joy bag featuring crystal detailing.
Image courtesy: @lofficielsingapore
Lisa took a more conceptual approach in a custom Robert Wun gown, layered with Bvlgari High Jewellery pieces. Completing the look off-carpet, was a Stella McCartney Lucia Plexi Clutch in brown.
Image courtesy: @lofficielsingapore
Image courtesy: @Voguemagazine
Law Roach wore a custom three-piece suit by Alexandre Mattiussi of Ami Paris, hand-painted by Naila Opiangah. Keeping to an off-white palette, he completed the look with a sleek Hermès Kelly Cut.
Image courtesy: E! News
Even before hitting the red carpet Kim Kardashian had set the tone for her Met presence —the day prior, she stepped out in an archival Dior Spring 1997 by John Galliano cheongsam dress, paired with the ultra-rare silver Hermès Sac Bijou Birkin originally designed by Pierre Hardy.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Isha Ambani had guests questioning whether had brough a snack as a handbag. Alongside her gemstone and gold-adorned custom couture saree by Gaurav Gupta was a hanging mango – a sculpture by Subodh Gupta reportedly valued at $100,000. Not a clutch, but a 20-year-old fruit-shaped artwork turned accessory.
The look was anchored by an intricate bodice set with over 200 diamonds, alongside jewellery from Nita Ambani’s collection, including two graduated diamond necklaces totalling over 250 carats.
Image courtesy: @anaitashroffadajania
Image courtesy: @anaitashroffadajania
Image courtesy: @anaitashroffadajania
Designer Simon Porte Jacquemus arrived arm in arm with his grandmother, Liline Jacquemus, who also serves as the brand’s first-ever ambassador. The pair twinned in matching white ensembles, with Simon carrying a bouquet of white paper flowers, while Liline completed her look with the Valérie bag in white.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Artist Amy Sherald fully embraced the dress code in a monochromatic Thom Browne look for the occasion, referencing her painting Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance). The monochromatic look was punctuated with bold red accessories, including the Baby Hector bag.
Image courtesy: Vanity Fair
Image courtesy: National Portrait Gallery
Charlotte Gainsbourg brought a rock ’n’ roll edge to the evening in a sleek all-black Saint Laurent leather look, styled with the Longline Midnight Large Clutch in black. Rebecca Hall also opted for Saint Laurent, wearing a statement black two-piece, finished with a matching black clutch.
Image courtesy: WWD
Image courtesy: WWD
Photographed together, Tory Burch wore an archival Thierry Mugler Fall/Winter 1987 look, while Laufey opted for a look from her namesake label. The pair were styled with matching beaded bags that complemented their respective outfits.
Image courtesy: WWD
Image courtesy: WWD
Image courtesy: WWD
Tyriq Withers, wearing Louis Vuitton, reflected the subtle shimmer of his black sheer shirt with a silver mini trunk, adding a sharp, compact accessory moment to the look.
Image courtesy: WWD
Paige Bueckers wore a custom painterly suit by Coach, complete with matching Tabby 12 Bag in the same fabrication – so co-ordinated you’d easily miss it.
Image courtesy: WWD
John Lithgow and Mary Yeager Lithgow coordinated in Gabriela Hearst, with Mary carrying the Soft Demi leather clutch in black.
Image courtesy: WWD
Gayle King wore an embellished gold Christian Siriano gown, styled with matching accessories, including a Cult Gaia Laguna Clutch Bag in a pearlescent shade with statement gold hardware.
Image courtesy: WWD
Naomi Elizee made her Met Gala debut in a Dries Van Noten gown, paired with the Erdem Bloom velvet clutch in burgundy.
Image courtesy: @naomielizee
Red Carpet Standouts
While A$AP Rocky had his Chanel moment, Rihanna also turned heads. She stepped out in a custom sculptural Maison Margiela by Glenn Martens look, complete with a statement Art Deco–inspired headpiece. The handwoven silk gown was embellished with over 115,000 crystal beads, antique jewels, and chains, reportedly requiring more than 1,380 hours of embroidery work alone.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Kim Kardashian continued her archival streak in a custom look by Allen Jones. The standout tangerine fiberglass breastplate, originally based on a late-1960s cast, anchored the sculptural ensemble, giving the look a distinctly art-led edge.
Image courtesy: @kimkardashian
Image courtesy: @kimkardashian
The the Devil Wears Prada 2 cast still made their presence felt on the carpet. Anne Hathaway wore a Michael Kors gown, intricately hand-painted by American artist Peter McGough, who drew inspiration from John Keats’ 1819 poem Ode on a Grecian Urn.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Stanley Tucci posed in a hunter green velvet tuxedo by Etro, alongside his co-star Emily Blunt and her sister Felicity Blunt. Emily Blunt wore a custom look by Ashi Studio, paired with a reportedly half-million-dollar pearl necklace courtesy of Mikimoto.
Image courtesy: WWD
Karlie Kloss looked sculptural in a custom Jonathan Anderson for Dior white dress, complete with delicate pleating and a bow at the hem — a look that felt like it had come straight off the runway.
Image courtesy: Vogue
After Party Accessories
At the after-party, the styling mood shifted towards more playful, party-ready accessories.
Co-chair Venus Williams swapped her Swarovski crystal mesh gown for a puff-ball mini dress for the Met after-party. She completed the look with a black satin Jimmy Choo Bon Bon bag.
Image courtesy: Vogue Australia
EJ Johnson styled a statement Saint Laurent ruffled gown with a Hermès Mini Kelly. Another Mini Kelly appeared on model Emira d’Spain in a pink shade.
Image courtesy: Deadline
Image courtesy: Deadline
Jisoo wore a Dior Fall-Winter 2026 ready-to-wear dress to the after party, styled with a lily-pad–inspired box bag.
Kate Barton leaned into impractical accessories, styling her own clear acrylic goldfish bowl piece with a black dress.
Image courtesy: Deadline
Daphne Velghe wore a custom Christian Siriano gown at the after-party, paired with a black Cartier Panthère de Cartier top-handle bag.
Image courtesy: Deadline
Danai Gurira kept it chic in a fringed off-white Gabriela Heart Spring-Summer 2026 dress, styled with a black vintage-inspired Etro Vela bag featuring a gold-tone top handle.
Image courtesy: Deadline
Charlotte Gainsbourg wasn’t the only one carrying the Saint Laurent Longline Midnight Large Clutch. At the after party, Connie Storrie arrived in a beige Saint Laurent suit, paired with the longline clutch.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Sticking to Saint Laurent accessories, Doja Cat sported the Paris Pouch in Beige to the after-hours events.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Euphoria star Maude Apatow arrived at the after-party in a classic white dress, paired with the Valentino Garavani Linen Beaded Vain Soft Clutch Bag.
Image courtesy: Vogue
Katy Perry umasked at the after party, and was spotted carrying a Stella McCartney Falabella Chain Wallet in white.
Image courtesy: @Voguemagazine
Actress Joey King was dressed in Miu Miu for the occasion, complete with white Miu Arcadie bag in matelassé nappa leather.
Image courtesy: @Voguemagazine
Who took the crown for best dressed at the Met Gala 2026 — and which look are you still thinking about?
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