The best photos you missed from the 2026 Met Gala

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was transformed for the gala.

To set the mood for the "Costume Art" gala, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's interior was transformed into an otherworldly wonderland.

A large model of the moon hung from the ceiling, while purple light cascaded around the room. Elaborate greenery decorated the space, serving as ethereal photo backdrops for attendees.

Co-chairs Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé debuted wardrobe changes once the gala kicked off.

Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Beyoncé served as co-chairs for the 2026 Met Gala, working with Anna Wintour to bring the event to life.

Once the gala kicked off, the trio spoke to guests from the stage. Both Kidman and Beyoncé wore looks different from those on the red carpet, while Williams stuck with her original dress.

Kendall Jenner showed off the cape of her gown for a dramatic photo inside the Met.

Jenner took a moment to document her custom Gap by Zac Posen dress once she was inside the party.

She swept the gown's billowing cape up behind her as the cameras flashed, revealing it was designed to look like feathers.

On the red carpet, Posen said the gown was inspired by the "Winged Victory of Samothrace."

Heidi Klum looked like a piece of artwork as she posed inside the Costume Institute.

Klum wore one of the night's most eye-catching looks to the 2026 Met Gala, transforming herself into a Greek statue with the help of prosthetic makeup artist Mike Marino.

She posed with other art pieces once she was inside the museum, truly looking like a statue that belonged there.

She also made time to share a laugh with Rihanna and ASAP Rocky.

Klum was photographed doubled over in laughter with Rihanna in their Met Gala finery. ASAP Rocky posed with them, putting bunny ears behind Klum's head for a classic photo gag.

The contrast between Klum's costume and their lighthearted laughter made for a striking image.

Likewise, Olivia Wilde was spotted giggling when Katy Perry unveiled her mask.

Celebrities often don't see their peers until inside the gala, so Wilde was likely unsure who was dressed in the burned white gown and metallic mask.

Wilde, however, seemed to get a kick out of Perry's reveal as she lifted her face covering to speak with the actor.

Katy Perry took a break from partying to sit among the displays.

The pop star could have been mistaken for a statue thanks to her all-white Stella McCartney custom outfit.

She sat on the marble base of a display in the "Costume Art" exhibit, with her hands in her lap, a metallic mask covering her face, and her gown's train draped beside her.

Sabrina Carpenter mimicked a painting for a cute photo opp.

She browsed the new Costume Institute exhibit while wearing her custom Dior gown made from film strips.

It was there that she found an illustration of a woman in 19th-century attire and mimicked her pose.

Everyone wanted to meet Alysa Liu — including Mark Zuckerberg.

Fresh off her gold medal win at the Olympics, Alysa Liu was the belle of the ball at this year's Met Gala.

During the party, Liu was seen chatting with three social media titans: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and Eva Chen, who is the director of fashion partnerships at Instagram.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos got cozy on the dance floor.

After walking the red carpet solo in a dress that sent a subtle message to her critics, Sánchez Bezos reunited with her husband inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The honorary co-chairs have been at the center of protests in New York City for weeks, but they looked carefree as they danced and smooched during the performances.

Sabrina Carpenter and Stevie Nicks teamed up for a duet.

Carpenter slipped into her third look of the night — a gold Bob Mackie dress — before joining forces with Stevie Nicks.

The iconic blondes sang "Landslide" and "Don't Stop," two legendary Fleetwood Mac tunes.

Tate McRae, Rosé, and Connor Storrie danced together to Sabrina Carpenter.

The two pop stars tore up the dance floor with Storrie in their formal attire as Teyana Taylor shimmied behind them.

Carpenter brought out her greatest hits for the Met Gala crowd, serenading them with "Please, Please, Please," and, obviously, "Espresso."

Zoë Kravitz, Lily-Rose Depp, and Gracie Abrams shared a good gossip session.

The original "Gossip Girl" stars used to congregate on the Met's iconic steps, but Kravitz, Depp, and Abrams brought their tea session inside as they chatted away on Monday night.

Could it have been about Kravitz's recently announced engagement to Harry Styles?

That's a secret they'll never tell, xoxo Gossip Girl.

Russell Wilson and Ciara shared a sweet couple moment away from the crowd.

They walked hand in hand through the museum, admiring the art and decor together.

In one photo, the couple is seen stopped in front of a portrait at the top of a staircase, creating the illusion that they were stepping into another world.

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter paused their partying to pose for a photo.

Beyoncé made her Met Gala return even more special by bringing both Jay-Z and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter to the Met Gala with her. She told Vogue on the red carpet that she was most excited to spend the evening seeing the event through Carter's eyes.

The mother-daughter duo took a photo together once they made it into the party, both smiling for the cameras in their designer ensembles.