Last year’s Met Gala 2025 leaned into precision tailoring and refined elegance, inspired by the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition and its “Tailored for You” dress code.
This year, however, the red carpet embraced a noticeably more expressive direction. With the 2026 theme, “Fashion Is Art,” alongside the “Costume Art” exhibition, beauty was approached not as a final detail, but as a central form of artistic expression.
The result was one of the most visually dynamic beauty moments the Met Gala has produced in recent years. Makeup artists and hairstylists reimagined celebrities as living artworks through smoky eyes, glossy skin finishes, sculptural hairstyles, radiant complexions, and intricate detailing. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, beauty felt bold, emotive, and deliberately imperfect—a striking shift away from the sleek, controlled aesthetics of recent seasons.
While couture remained the anchor of the evening, beauty played an equally defining role in shaping the night’s most memorable fashion statements. Hair and makeup teams embraced experimentation and individuality, delivering looks that felt expressive, personal, and deeply artistic.
Smoky eyes emerged as a key trend of the night, ranging from soft, romantic interpretations to sharper, more editorial executions. Wet-look shine, luminous skin, sculpted waves, and high-gloss finishes also made a strong appearance, reflecting a broader move away from overly perfected beauty standards.
Ultimately, this year’s gala reinforced the idea that beauty can stand entirely on its own as an art form. The most impactful looks succeeded because hair and makeup didn’t just accompany the fashion—they transformed it into something cinematic, immersive, and fully realized.
From timeless Hollywood-inspired glamour to bold, experimental styling, these were the beauty moments that defined the 2026 Met Gala.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway delivered one of the evening’s most refined beauty looks, striking a seamless balance between classic elegance and modern softness. Celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo created a softly blended smoky eye paired with a rosy pink lip that enhanced her natural features while maintaining an understated, polished finish.
Her hair, styled by Orlando Pita, was pulled into a romantic updo that blended structure with effortless softness. The overall result felt timeless, graceful, and perfectly aligned with the evening’s artistic tone.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne reaffirmed the smoky eye’s enduring place on the red carpet. Her warm brown shadow added depth and intensity to her light eyes while offering a softer, more wearable interpretation of classic smoky glam.
The rest of her makeup remained minimal, with softly flushed cheeks and a muted mauve lip that balanced the eye focus. Hairstylist Mara Roszak completed the look with sleek finger waves, giving it a sculptural, vintage-inspired finish.
Together, the elements formed one of the most cohesive and visually compelling beauty moments of the night.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian opted for a more relaxed beauty direction this year, moving away from her signature high-glam, ultra-polished aesthetic. She debuted a tousled blonde lob styled in loose, textured waves that felt modern, undone, and intentionally effortless.
Her makeup remained rooted in her familiar glam style, featuring a smoky eye created by longtime collaborator Mario Dedivanovic. Soft contouring and nude-toned lips completed the monochromatic finish.
The contrast between relaxed hair and structured smoky makeup resulted in one of Kardashian’s most contemporary and refreshed beauty looks in years.
Kylie Jenner
Bleached brows stood out as one of the boldest beauty statements of the evening, and Kylie Jenner wore the trend with unexpected sophistication. The softened brows created an ethereal quality, drawing attention to her glowing complexion and sculpted neutral-toned makeup.
Her hairstyle featured a deep side part with a delicate curled strand placed across her forehead, adding softness to the futuristic direction of the look. Makeup artist Ariel Tejada used warm nude tones to build a cohesive palette that complemented her gown.
The final effect felt editorial, modern, and surprisingly approachable.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter embraced soft romantic glamour with one of the most delicate beauty looks of the evening. Her makeup featured flushed cheeks, gently smoked eyes, and a glossy pink lip that reinforced her signature feminine aesthetic.
A standout detail came from the crystallized accents placed at the inner corners of her eyes, which caught the light and added a dreamy, luminous finish.
Hairstylist Evanie Frausto styled her hair into a voluminous old-Hollywood blowout filled with soft movement and curls. The final result felt youthful, glamorous, and perfectly aligned with the artistic spirit of the night.
