Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: From Beyoncé’s return after a decade to Karan Johar’s debut, all eyes are on the iconic Met steps

Met Gala 2026 LIVE: Fashion’s biggest night returns with the Met Gala 2026, bringing together global celebrities, designers and cultural icons on the iconic red carpet. Check theme, date, guest list, India celebrities, dress code, best dressed and red carpet looks.

Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: The first Monday of May is here, and you know what that means — it’s Met Monday! The fashion fraternity is all set to celebrate ‘Costume Art’, the spring exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York. The carpet rolls out on the iconic steps as we wait in anticipation for Bollywood and Hollywood’s best to attend the annual Met Gala — a true celebration of fashion and art.

This year, the theme for the Gala is “Costume Art”. With Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams serving as co-chairs, the May 4 event invites attendees to interpret fashion as an embodied art form, in line with the dress code, “Fashion Is Art”.

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Inspired by the exhibit that went on display this spring, the theme goes beyond the question of what we wear, opening the floor to a broader dialogue on how the body itself becomes a site of aesthetic expression, asking guests to “examine the centrality of the dressed body.”

This year, the Met Gala has been under fire as a result of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s active involvement. The organisers recently issued a statement thanking the Amazon founder and his wife for their financial support, alluding to their sponsorship. The excerpt read, “The exhibition and benefit are made possible by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos.” Amazon has been criticised before for their labour laws and unsafe working conditions, and their leaders berated online for using monetary prowess to gain access to culture.

ALSO READ | Inside the Met Gala: The Glamorous History Behind Fashion’s Biggest Night

From India, this year’s biggest representation comes from filmmaker Karan Johar, who is all set to walk the Met Gala carpet in collaboration with long-time friend and ace designer Manish Malhotra. Isha Ambani, Mona Patel, Natasha Poonawalla, and Sudha Reddy have also confirmed their attendance. As for Bollywood icons, online speculation continues to run amok.

Keep reading as we bring you LIVE updates from the annual Met Gala:

Live Updates
May 4, 2026 07:38 PM IST
Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: From Shah Rukh Khan to Freida Pinto, Indian celebrities at Met Gala over the years

Bollywood's superstar Shah Rukh Khan made his Met Gala debut last year in a breathtaking black ensemble by ace designer Sabyasachi, becoming the first male actor from the Hindi film industry to walk the prestigious red carpet. Earlier, the Slumdog Millionaire fame, Freida Pinto, turned heads at the 2011 Met Gala in an ivory silk Chanel gown. Other Indian celebrities who walked the Met Gala red carpet over the years are: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone, Kiara Advani, Diljit Dosanjh, Alia Bhatt, Isha Ambani, and Natasha Poonawalla.

May 4, 2026 07:25 PM IST
Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos's throw Met Gala pre-party

Ahead of the annual fashion fundraiser in support of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos hosted an exclusive pre–Met Gala gathering at their NYC home on May 2. The Amazon founder and the Emmy-winning journalist are serving as honorary co-chairs and are also the event’s main financial backers for the gala taking place on Monday, May 4. The star-studded guest list included Kris Jenner, Sam Smith, Nicole Kidman, Gayle King, and Nicky Hilton, among others. The evening also doubled as a date night for several couples, such as Serena Williams with Alexis Ohanian and Venus Williams with Andrea Preti.

May 4, 2026 06:17 PM IST
Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: Isha Ambani paid tribute to Indian craft at the Met Gala pre-party

Isha Ambani arrived at Vogue’s 2026 Met Gala pre-party this weekend in a Manish Malhotra x Swadesh ensemble. The reimagined bandage dress was defined by 26 distinct borders, each representing a different region of India and giving a nod to this year’s theme of ‘Costume Art’.

May 4, 2026 06:15 PM IST
Met Gala 2026: Isha Ambani celebrates Indian craft in Manish Malhotra x Swadesh ensemble at Met Gala pre-party in New York

Isha Ambani turned heads at a Met Gala pre-party in New York, spotlighting Indian craftsmanship in a striking Manish Malhotra x Swadesh ensemble. The look blended heritage artistry with modern couture, making a strong statement on global fashion’s growing love for indigenous design narratives. READ MORE HERE

May 4, 2026 05:24 PM IST
Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: From fundraiser to annual gala

Did you know, the Met Gala once began as a simple fundraiser. Founded in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the Gala was initially a midnight supper to raise funds for the Costume Institute. Tickets originally cost just $50, and the event was far less glamorous than it is today.

May 4, 2026 04:34 PM IST
Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: When and where can you watch?

Indian viewers can watch the livestream on Vogue’s official YouTube channel, sharp at 3:30 am IST on Tuesday, May 5. For those watching from abroad, platforms like Peacock and Hulu will go live on Monday, May 4, at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT.

May 4, 2026 04:02 PM IST
Met Gala 2026 LIVE Updates: Know your hosts

Before you turn into couch critics for the night, take a look at this year's hosting committee. Actors Angela Bassett, Elizabeth Debicki, Rebecca Hall, Teyana Taylor and Zoe Kravitz; filmmaker Lena Dunham, as well as singers Doja Cat and Sabrina Carpenter are all set to entertain guests at the Gala.

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