Last year’s Met Gala 2025 celebrated precision tailoring and polished sophistication through the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition and its “Tailored for You” dress code.

This year, however, the mood shifted dramatically. The 2026 theme, “Fashion Is Art,” alongside the “Costume Art” exhibition, encouraged attendees to approach beauty with the same level of creativity and imagination as their couture looks.

The result was one of the most daring and visually captivating beauty carpets the Met Gala has seen in years. Hair and makeup artists transformed celebrities into living masterpieces through smoky eyes, glossy textures, sculptural hairstyles, radiant skin, and intricate embellishments. Across the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps, beauty felt expressive, emotional, and intentionally imperfect—a refreshing contrast to the sleek minimalism that has dominated recent red carpets.

Although couture remained at the center of the evening, beauty played an equally important role in shaping the night’s most memorable fashion moments. Makeup artists and hairstylists embraced individuality and artistry, creating looks that felt deeply personal rather than overly polished.

Smoky eyes emerged as one of the defining beauty trends of the evening, appearing in everything from soft romantic glam to dramatic editorial interpretations. Wet-look textures, luminous complexions, sculpted waves, and glossy finishes also dominated the carpet, signaling a continued move away from rigid “clean girl” aesthetics.

More than anything, this year’s gala proved that beauty is no longer just a complement to fashion—it is an essential part of the creative narrative. The most unforgettable looks of the night succeeded because hair and makeup worked in complete harmony with the gowns, elevating each appearance into a true artistic statement.

From timeless Hollywood elegance to avant-garde experimentation, these were the beauty looks that stole the spotlight at the 2026 Met Gala.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway delivered one of the evening’s most refined beauty moments with a look that balanced classic glamour and modern softness. Celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo created a diffused smoky eye paired with a rosy-pink lip that enhanced Hathaway’s natural elegance without overwhelming her features.

Her hair, styled by Orlando Pita, was swept into an elegant updo that felt polished yet romantic. The overall effect was timeless, sophisticated, and perfectly suited to the artistic tone of the evening.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne reminded everyone why a smoky eye remains a red carpet staple. Her warm-toned brown shadow brought intensity to her light eyes while maintaining a softer, more wearable finish than traditional black smoky makeup.

The rest of her glam stayed understated, featuring softly flushed cheeks and a muted mauve lip that balanced the dramatic eye look beautifully. Hairstylist Mara Roszak completed the beauty statement with sleek finger waves that added a sculptural, vintage-inspired touch.

Together, the hair and makeup created one of the most cohesive and striking beauty looks of the night.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian embraced a noticeably more relaxed beauty direction for this year’s gala, stepping away from the ultra-polished glamour that has long defined her signature aesthetic. She debuted a tousled blonde lob styled in loose waves that felt intentionally undone and effortlessly modern.

Her makeup remained true to her signature style, featuring a sultry smoky eye created by longtime collaborator Mario Dedivanovic. Soft contouring and nude lips completed the monochromatic glam.

The combination of textured hair and classic smoky makeup made this one of Kardashian’s freshest and most modern beauty looks in recent memory.

Kylie Jenner

Bleached brows were one of the evening’s boldest beauty trends, and Kylie Jenner wore them with surprising elegance. The lightened brows softened her overall look, creating an ethereal quality that drew attention to her glowing skin and sculpted neutral-toned makeup.

Her hairstyle featured a dramatic side part with a delicate curled tendril placed across her forehead, adding softness to the futuristic beauty concept. Makeup artist Ariel Tejada used warm nude shades throughout the look, perfectly coordinating with Jenner’s gown.

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

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter once again proved herself a master of romantic glam. Her beauty look focused on flushed cheeks, softly shimmering smoky eyes, and a glossy pink lip that enhanced her signature feminine aesthetic.

One of the standout details was the crystallized shimmer placed at the inner corners of her eyes, which caught the light beautifully and added a dreamy touch to the makeup.

Hairstylist Evanie Frausto styled Carpenter’s hair into a voluminous old-Hollywood blowout filled with soft movement and glamorous curls. The finished look felt youthful, polished, and perfectly aligned with the evening’s artistic energy.