LIVEMet Gala 2026 live: Stars descend on red carpet as fashion's biggest night is engulfed by furious backlash

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The Met Gala is upon us! 

Stars began arriving on the red carpet at 5pm on Monday for fashion’s biggest night, amid a backdrop of protesters and celebrity outrage.

Anna Wintour was among the first to turn up, pairing her trademark sunglasses with a bright turquoise gown.

Fashion is Art is the theme for this year’s event, which is co-chaired by a superstar panel lineup featuring the ex-Vogue chief, Beyonce, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams.

Among those expected to attend are Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. 

But this year’s gala has been marred with controversy. Hollywood is furious that it is being sponsored by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, 62, and his wife Lauren Sanchez, 56, who gave a rumored $10 million to the Costume Institute in exchange for being named honorary co-chairs.

Follow the Daily Mail for the latest updates… 

 

Anna Wintour, Nicole Kidman and Lauren Sanchez chat on the red carpet

The Met Gala co-chairs were spotted chatting on the red carpet as they arrived for the highly anticipated event.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Nicole Kidman, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and Anna Wintour attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Nicole Kidman, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and Anna Wintour attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)

21:41

Vogue magazine’s global editor at large Hamish Bowles dons a quirky patchwork suit on the carpet

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Hamish Bowles attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

21:35

Walmart heir S. Robson Walton walks the red carpet

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) S. Robson Walton and Jordan Rose Walton attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)

21:32

French internet personality Léna Mahfouf bares it all on the red carpet

She left little to the imagination as she arrived with bronze hands covering her chest.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Lena Mahfouf attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)

Lena Mahfouf poses during the Met Gala, an annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute with this year's theme 'Costume Art' in New York City, New York, U.S., May 4, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole

21:31

Billionaire Sergey Brin arrives at Met Gala

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Sergey Brin and Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

21:25

Loved-up Venus Williams and Andrea Preti walk the red carpet

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Venus Williams and Andrea Preti attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Venus Williams and Andrea Preti attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic)

21:21

Bill Skarsgard cuts a dark silhouette on the red carpet

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Bill Skarsgård attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City.  (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

21:17

Met Gala 2026 WORST dressed: Chloe Malle and Emma Chamberlain miss the mark on the red carpet

It’s the first Monday in May – and that means it’s fashion’s biggest night of the year, with a star–studded guest list set to include Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sabrina Carpenter, Misty Copeland and Lena Dunham.

Of course, there will surely be some seriously memorable fashion fails tonight as A–list stars descend upon the red carpet before the gala begins.

This year’s dress code is ‘fashion is art,’ which will serve as a more specific baseline for guests against the gala’s overall theme of ‘costume art.’

21:13

New Vogue boss Chloe Malle dons a tangerine gown on the Met Gala carpet

Malle took on the role of Head of Editorial Content for American Vogue last year.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Chloe Malle attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

21:06

Honorary co-chair Lauren Sanchez arrives

Jeff Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sanchez, has arrived at the Met Gala after the couple reportedly paid $10 million to co-chair the event.

She was spotted on the red carpet with Nicole Kidman and Anna Wintour.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Lauren Sánchez Bezos attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Nicole Kidman, Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Anna Wintour at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating "Costume Art" held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

21:04

Nicole Kidman looks red hot in sequin gown

The actress posed with her daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, on the red carpet.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Nicole Kidman attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: (L-R) Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and Nicole Kidman attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

21:02

America’s fashion queen revealed as DailyMail+ unveils the Power List that humiliates Hollywood royalty, stuns Washington’s elite… and leaves Lauren Sanchez reeling

Ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4, DailyMail+ is unveiling which famous faces truly wield the most influence in the United States.

Each week, we will focus on a separate group in public life that will include the most powerful political commentators, morning show stars, celebrity couples, influencers and more.

But, in addition to shaping the world through art, media or policy, these prominent figures also hold the power to sway culture with their style.

Here, the Daily Mail has ranked the most fashionable faces – from Hollywood to the Hill and beyond.

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