Last year’s Met Gala 2025 centered on precision tailoring and refined sophistication, inspired by the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition and its “Tailored for You” dress code.
This year, however, the atmosphere felt entirely different. With the 2026 theme, “Fashion Is Art,” and the accompanying “Costume Art” exhibition, attendees were encouraged to treat beauty as an extension of artistic expression rather than merely the finishing touch to a couture look.
The result was one of the boldest and most visually compelling beauty lineups the Met Gala has delivered in years. Hair and makeup artists transformed celebrities into walking works of art through glossy textures, smoky eyes, sculptural hairstyles, luminous skin, and delicate embellishments. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, beauty felt emotional, experimental, and intentionally undone—a striking departure from the polished minimalism that has dominated recent red carpets.
While couture naturally remained the centerpiece of the evening, beauty played an equally important role in defining the night’s standout moments. Makeup artists and hairstylists leaned into creativity and individuality, crafting looks that felt expressive, personal, and artfully imperfect.
Smoky eyes emerged as one of the evening’s strongest trends, appearing everywhere from soft romantic interpretations to dramatic editorial glam. Wet-look finishes, glowing skin, sculpted waves, and glossy textures also made a major impact, reinforcing the ongoing shift away from ultra-clean beauty aesthetics.
More than ever, this year’s gala highlighted how beauty can become part of the storytelling itself. The most memorable looks succeeded because the hair and makeup elevated the fashion rather than simply complementing it, transforming each appearance into a fully realized artistic statement.
From timeless glamour to boundary-pushing experimentation, these were the beauty looks that dominated the 2026 Met Gala.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway delivered one of the evening’s most elegant beauty moments with a look that blended timeless sophistication and contemporary softness. Celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo created a softly smoked eye paired with a rosy pink lip that enhanced Hathaway’s natural beauty while keeping the overall glam understated and refined.
Her hair, styled by Orlando Pita, was swept into a romantic updo that balanced structure with softness. The final effect felt classic, graceful, and perfectly in tune with the artistic mood of the evening.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne once again proved the enduring power of a smoky eye on the red carpet. Her warm brown shadow intensified her light eyes while offering a softer alternative to traditional dark smoky makeup.
The rest of her beauty look remained minimal and balanced, featuring subtly flushed cheeks and a muted mauve lip. Hairstylist Mara Roszak completed the look with sleek finger waves that added a sculptural, vintage-inspired finish.
Together, the hair and makeup created one of the evening’s most polished and cohesive beauty statements.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian embraced a noticeably more relaxed beauty aesthetic this year, moving away from the ultra-polished glam that has become synonymous with her image. She debuted a tousled blonde lob styled in loose, textured waves that felt intentionally effortless and modern.
Her makeup stayed rooted in her signature style, featuring a sultry smoky eye created by longtime collaborator Mario Dedivanovic. Soft contouring and nude lips completed the monochromatic look.
The pairing of undone hair with classic smoky glam resulted in one of Kardashian’s most refreshed beauty moments in recent years.
Kylie Jenner
Bleached brows emerged as one of the evening’s boldest trends, and Kylie Jenner wore the look with surprising sophistication. The lighter brows softened her features and created an ethereal effect that brought focus to her radiant skin and sculpted neutral-toned makeup.
Her hairstyle featured a deep side part with a delicate curled tendril resting against her forehead, adding softness and movement to the futuristic beauty direction. Makeup artist Ariel Tejada used warm nude tones throughout the makeup look to perfectly complement Jenner’s gown.
The final result felt editorial, elevated, and unexpectedly wearable.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter once again embraced romantic glamour with one of the prettiest beauty looks of the night. Her makeup centered on flushed cheeks, softly smoked eyes, and a glossy pink lip that enhanced her signature feminine aesthetic.
One of the standout details was the shimmering crystallized accent placed at the inner corners of her eyes, which reflected the light beautifully and added a dreamy, ethereal touch.
Hairstylist Evanie Frausto styled Carpenter’s hair into a voluminous old-Hollywood blowout filled with soft curls and movement. The overall look felt glamorous, youthful, and perfectly aligned with the evening’s artistic energy.
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