Met Gala 2026: Karan Johar, Isha Ambani, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Beyoncé Lead the Night

The Met Gala 2026 took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This year’s theme was “Costume Art” with dress code “Fashion is Art.” Celebrities from across industries attended. Indian names were also present.

The Beginning

The first Monday of May marked the return of the Met Gala. The steps of the museum opened again for the annual event. People from film, music, sports and fashion gathered for the night.

The event is linked to the Costume Institute. It also supports the exhibition that runs inside the museum.

Theme and Idea

This year’s theme was “Costume Art.”

The dress code was “Fashion is Art.”

The idea was to connect clothing with art. It also focused on how the body carries fashion. People were expected to present looks based on this thought.

The exhibition will run from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.

Co-Chairs and Guests

The event was led by Anna Wintour, Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams.

Many celebrities attended the event. Some were first-time attendees.

Discussion Around Sponsorship

The event also saw discussion around sponsorship.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez were mentioned for their support.

The organisers thanked them for helping fund the exhibition. This also led to online reactions and discussions.

Indian Presence

credit: Getty Images

From India, Karan Johar attended the event. He walked on the carpet in a design by Manish Malhotra.

Other names included Isha Ambani, Natasha Poonawalla, Mona Patel and Sudha Reddy.

Karan Johar’s Look

Karan Johar wore a custom outfit by Manish Malhotra.

The base was a black bandhgala jacket with gold borders. One side had a hand-painted portrait. He also wore a long cape. The cape had embroidery on both sides. The design included deities, lotuses, pillars and swans in gold, red and black tones.

The look was inspired by Raja Ravi Varma. He paired it with black trousers. He said he had followed the event for years and wanted to be part of it.

Other Indian Looks

credits: Getty Images

Isha Ambani wore a saree with a cape design. The look included jewellery from her family collection. She said the saree is a form of art.

credit: Getty Images

Natasha Poonawalla wore a look that combined a sculpture piece with a couture outfit.

credit: Getty Images

Sudha Reddy wore a custom outfit that focused on Indian textile work.

Princess Gauravi Kumari wore a saree from her family collection and spoke about Jaipur as her home city.

International Red Carpet Moments

Kim Kardashian wore a fibreglass breastplate with a skirt that had painted strokes.

credit: Getty Images

Rihanna arrived in Maison Margiela with a gold headpiece. 

Beyoncé wore a silver outfit with a headpiece and spoke about attending with her daughter.

Katy Perry wore a strapless gown with a mask.

Blake Lively wore a gown and shared that her bag had artwork made by her children.

Anne Hathaway wore a hand-painted outfit.

Sabrina Carpenter wore a look based on film reels.

Kylie Jenner wore a corset-style outfit with a draped skirt.

Dinner and Event Details

The dinner at the event followed a Northern Italian garden theme.

The menu included lamb, gnocchi and vegetables served in courses.

The event continued with guests interacting and attending the exhibition.

Overall

Met Gala 2026 focused on linking fashion with art.

The theme shaped how people dressed. Many looks were based on painting, structure and body form. The event also showed global participation. India was part of the event through designers and public figures.