Met Gala theme 2026, red carpet live updates: Stars arrive in ‘costume art’ as biggest fashion event begins

Olivia Wilde is here in an off-shoulder black Thom Browne gown with a white tulle train.

Wilde has a film coming out later this year called The Invite, which premiered at Sundance in January.

The stars of The Devil Wears Prada and the Met Gala have a closer connection than usual this year. You don’t get that movie without Vogue and Wintour.

Stanley Tucci showed up in a Blunt sandwich, with wife Felicity Blunt and co-star and sister-in-law Emily Blunt on each side.

Anne Hathaway is also there, in a plunging black-and-white gown. We’re on Meryl lookout.

Anna Wintour is, of course, the grande dame of the Met Gala, having overseen everything for three decades.

The event is a red carpet extravaganza and Wintour is also keen to point out its wider benefits to the city. It’s tempting to see her remarks as perhaps a veiled rebuke to Mayor Zohran Mamdani who broke with tradition to become the first New York City mayor to not attend in some years.

“What I think people love about tonight is not only is it great for fashion, and obviously a very important fundraiser for the Costume Institute.

“This is also incredibly important to the economic health of New York City itself. If you think about the hotels that we fill, and god knows how many hairdressers we give work to, and the drivers, it’s just a ripple effect.

“It’s not one night only. It’s a whole week of occasions. You have to remember how many tourists are watching the live stream and seeing you on the live stream and coming to New York City and to the Met.”

In speaking about the event’s co-hosts for the year, which controversially includes Lauren Sanchez Bezos – the Bezos’ involvement is a core point of the protests against the Gala this year – Wintour added, “They’re women that have been fearless in their careers.

“They’ve achieved so much, and they keep going. They go at a pace that’s unstoppable, and I’m so full of admiration for all of them.”

Russian model and actress Irina Shayk arrived in a daring look with a jewelled bra and low-rise skirt.

It looked part Cleopatra and part Princess Laya but drew gasps from the awaiting press.

Lisa, star of K-pop group Blackpink and TV series The White Lotus, arrives in all white, bringing her own shade in the form of flowing sheer mesh.

The White Lotus star, and son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Schwarzenegger, arrived in a stylish black cropped jacket, VERY on trend at the moment.

The star paired the jacket with flowing black pants, and a black cane.

Singer Katy Perry has delivered a questionable look on the Met Gala 2026 red carpet.

The star wore a white bridal gown with a silver face covering, which was eventually dramatically removed.

Claire Foy, who played Queen Elizabeth II in the first seasons of The Crown, has dazzled in black with a gown paired with a sheer, mesh face mask fascinator.

French social media star Lena Mahfouf arrived in a daring ensemble showing off the art of the human form.

The sheer bottom was paired with a set of moulded hands holding her breasts.

American influencer Emma Chamberlain stunned onlookers as she arrived in a gown that appeared more like a painting than clothing.

This one nails the brief.