Last year’s Met Gala 2025 embraced precision tailoring and refined sophistication, guided by the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition and its “Tailored for You” dress code.

This year, however, the red carpet took a more expressive and imaginative turn. With the 2026 theme, “Fashion Is Art,” alongside the “Costume Art” exhibition, beauty was no longer treated as a final polish—it became a core part of the artistic narrative.

The result was one of the most visually adventurous beauty moments the Met Gala has seen in years. Makeup artists and hairstylists redefined celebrity glam through smoky eyes, luminous skin, glossy finishes, sculptural hair, and intricate embellishments. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, beauty felt expressive, dramatic, and intentionally undone—a clear departure from the controlled, minimal aesthetics of recent seasons.

While couture remained the foundation of the evening, beauty played an equally powerful role in shaping its most unforgettable fashion moments. Hair and makeup teams embraced creativity and individuality, producing looks that felt deeply personal, artistic, and emotionally charged.

Smoky eyes emerged as a defining trend of the night, appearing in everything from soft, romantic styles to bold, editorial interpretations. Wet-look textures, radiant skin, sculpted waves, and high-shine finishes also dominated the carpet, signaling a continued shift away from overly perfected beauty ideals.

More than anything, this year’s gala underscored beauty as a standalone art form. The most memorable looks succeeded because hair and makeup didn’t just complement the fashion—they transformed it into something immersive, cinematic, and fully realized.

From classic Hollywood glamour to experimental, boundary-pushing artistry, these were the beauty moments that shaped the 2026 Met Gala.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway delivered one of the evening’s most polished beauty moments, effortlessly blending timeless elegance with modern softness. Celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo crafted a softly diffused smoky eye paired with a rosy pink lip that enhanced her features while maintaining a refined, understated finish.

Her hair, styled by Orlando Pita, was shaped into a romantic updo that balanced structure with ease. The overall look felt graceful, classic, and perfectly aligned with the night’s artistic energy.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne once again proved the enduring appeal of the smoky eye on the red carpet. Her warm brown shadow added depth and definition to her light eyes while offering a softer, more modern take on traditional smoky glam.

The rest of her makeup stayed minimal, with gently flushed cheeks and a muted mauve lip that balanced the intensity of the eye look. Hairstylist Mara Roszak completed the style with sleek finger waves that introduced a sculptural, vintage-inspired edge.

The result was a cohesive, striking beauty moment that felt both classic and contemporary.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian embraced a more relaxed beauty aesthetic this year, stepping away from her signature ultra-polished glam. She debuted a tousled blonde lob styled in loose, textured waves that felt effortless, modern, and intentionally undone.

Her makeup remained grounded in her signature style, featuring a smoky eye created by longtime collaborator Mario Dedivanovic. Soft contouring and nude lips completed the monochromatic look.

The contrast between undone hair and structured glam makeup created one of Kardashian’s most refreshed and contemporary beauty transformations in recent memory.

Kylie Jenner

Bleached brows emerged as one of the night’s most daring beauty trends, and Kylie Jenner wore the look with surprising sophistication. The softened brows gave her an ethereal quality, highlighting her glowing skin 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 create a seamless, coordinated palette that complemented her gown.

The final result felt editorial, modern, and unexpectedly wearable.

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter embraced soft, romantic glamour with one of the most delicate beauty looks of the night. Her makeup featured flushed cheeks, gently smoked eyes, and a glossy pink lip that highlighted 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 subtle, dreamy glow.

Hairstylist Evanie Frausto styled her hair into a voluminous old-Hollywood blowout, complete with soft curls and movement. The final look felt youthful, polished, and perfectly aligned with the artistic spirit of the evening.