The 2026 Met Gala delivered a striking celebration of beauty as a true art form. With this year’s theme, “Fashion is Art,” guests embraced bold creativity, transforming the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art into a living gallery of sculptural makeup, conceptual nails and radiant skin.
Held on Monday, May 4, the event marked the opening of the Costume Institute’s latest exhibition, “Costume Art,” encouraging attendees to blur the boundaries between fashion, beauty and fine art. While couture gowns drew admiration, it was the intricate beauty details that truly defined the night.
From cinematic glamour to experimental textures, these standout looks offer a glimpse into the trends set to shape salons and artistry in the months ahead.
Sabrina Carpenter: Modern Vintage Glamour
Sabrina Carpenter delivered a masterclass in Old Hollywood elegance, channeling cinematic inspiration with a contemporary twist. Her custom Dior gown, designed by Jonathan Anderson, paid homage to Audrey Hepburn’s iconic role in Sabrina (1954), setting the tone for a cohesive, film-inspired look.
Her makeup, crafted by Carolina Gonzalez, softened her signature style with a berry-toned lip, cool brown eyeshadow and subtle highlighter placed at the inner corners and brow bone to enhance her blue eyes. Defined brows kept the look grounded and recognisable.
Her manicure, however, stole the spotlight. Nail artist Zola Ganzorigt created a black-tipped French manicure adorned with delicate silver film reel detailing over a glazed chrome base using OPI’s “Tin Man Glaze.” The look signals a growing appetite for narrative-driven, editorial nail art.
Keke Palmer: A Bold Monochrome Moment
Keke Palmer redefined red carpet glamour with a striking monochromatic beauty look. Instead of reserving red for the lips, her makeup artist Kenya Alexis extended the shade across her entire face.
A vivid scarlet lip was paired with smoky red-toned eyeshadow and a generous flush of blush, creating a cohesive and high-impact finish. Styled alongside her crimson Prabal Gurung gown, the look exemplified the rise of maximalist makeup,bold, expressive and unapologetically vibrant.
Ashley Graham: Sculptural Skin Meets Chrome Art
Ashley Graham embraced the theme with a body-focused, sculptural aesthetic. Her custom Di Petsa gown, designed by Dimitra Petsa, was hand-applied to mimic a “second skin,” drawing inspiration from fluid draping and organic forms.
Her beauty look, created by Kabuki using Revlon, centred on luminous, natural skin and a soft rose-toned lip, allowing texture and form to take precedence.
Adding an editorial edge, her silver chrome-dipped hands, designed by Dawn Sterling, referenced sculptural craftsmanship. This fusion of minimal makeup and artistic detailing highlights a growing shift towards skin-first beauty with conceptual accents.
Doechii: Tonal Texture and Cultural Expression
Doechii delivered a refined yet deeply intentional look, wearing a burgundy Marc Jacobs ensemble complemented by a sculptural headpiece.
Her makeup, by Chelsea Uchenna, featured a rich tonal palette of earthy hues and jewel tones. Iridescent green eyeshadow blended seamlessly with deep plum matte shades, finished with a bronzed lip for cohesion.
Her manicure, created by Rachel Sun, drew inspiration from crystal formations, adding subtle texture. Completing the look, Doechii honoured her Senegalese heritage with her first henna stain, applied by Amiinah (Meenah Dizigns), incorporating black and red tones that echoed the overall aesthetic.
Anok Yai: Living Golden Sculpture
Anok Yai embodied the theme in its purest form, transforming into a gilded work of art. Inspired by Black Madonna iconography, makeup artist Sheika Daley coated her in radiant gold shimmer from head to toe.
Her flawless complexion served as the canvas, while 3D prosthetic tears added a dramatic, sculptural element reminiscent of religious art.
Defined eyes and elongated eyeliner brought depth, paired with softly blended smoky tones. The result was a powerful interpretation of beauty as living sculpture.
Tyla: Iridescent Mermaid Glam
For her third Met Gala appearance, Tyla embraced an ethereal, mermaid-inspired aesthetic. Wearing a custom Valentino design by Alessandro Michele, her look fused fluidity with structure.
Her makeup, created by Ngozi Edeme using Valentino Beauty, leaned into luminous skin with subtle colour accents. Soft bronzed eyes were elevated with iridescent tones that extended from the eyes to the cheekbones, ears and even the body.
A full-body shimmer, layered with hints of blue-reflective glitter, created a multidimensional glow under the red carpet lights, capturing the essence of movement and light as art.
The Takeaway: Beauty as Storytelling
The Met Gala 2026 made one thing clear: beauty is no longer just an accessory, it’s central to the narrative. From sculptural nails and chrome finishes to glowing, skin-focused looks and cultural detailing, this year’s trends point toward artistry, individuality and storytelling.
For beauty professionals, these looks signal a shift toward more conceptual, personalised approaches, where makeup and nails don’t just complement fashion, but complete it.
