This year’s Met Gala saw a string of the most famous women in the world turn heads with their show-stopping outfits – but many also seemingly decided to ditch their other half.
The biggest night on the fashion calendar was held overnight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, with the guests encouraged to dress according to the theme – Fashion is Art.
Many stars also used the event as a chance for a glamorous date night with their partners – with Rihanna and A$AP Rocky and Beyoncé and Jay-Z walking the red carpet together.
Although Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster made their debut in a loved-up display, many people were left wanting more after several power couples who’d been expected to ascend the iconic Met steps hand-in-hand didn’t show.
Instead, women like Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Zoë Kravitz arrived without their famous partners – indicating that having a boyfriend (or husband) might be, in fact, embarrassing now.
On the other hand, many of the men seemingly just couldn’t be bothered with a glitzy night out – with one even deciding to watch a sports game instead.
Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet
It might have taken Kylie, 28, and Timothée, 30, two years to make their red carpet debut after first being spotted together in 2023, however over the past year they’ve attended a string of events side-by-side – and have not been afraid to put on a PDA in the process.
After wearing attention-grabbing matching orange outfits during his press tour for Marty Supreme and attending the Oscars together, many expected the couple to finally make their Met debut this year.
However, Kylie – who wore a Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown by Daniel Roseberry – attended alone, with her sisters Kim and Kylie also there solo too. After Kylie’s boyfriend recently caused controversy for his comments declaring ‘no-one cares’ about ballet and opera, she might have also decided it was best for him to sit out an event at an art gallery where they could be asked about that again…or he might say something even more outrageous.
But the actor made clear that another event had actually taken top priority, with Timothée spotted attending a Knicks game instead. His snub of the Met Gala comes after he also ditched it last year to watch a basketball game.
Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles
In recent weeks Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles have sent tongues wagging around the world after she was spotted with a sparkler on her ring finger.
Although the couple, aged 37 and 32, only started dating about eight months ago, the One Direction star is reported to have got down on one knee recently.
While they’ve been snapped several times on walks throughout cities including Rome, London and New York, they’re yet to make their red carpet debut, with many expecting them to have done so last night.
Over the years Zoë has attended the Met Gala 11 times, however Harry hasn’t been there since 2019 – this year being tied up with preparations for his upcoming residency tour, which kicks off next week in Amsterdam.
Although many had been desperate to see them together last night, Zoë also made an effort to hide her engagement ring, keeping her hands buried deep into the pockets of her see-through lace Saint Laurent gown by Anthony Vaccarello.
What was the theme for the Met Gala 2026?
This year’s theme was Costume Art, named after the museum’s new exhibition
The specific dress code for the gala was Fashion Is Art, with guests encouraged to explore fashion as an art form and to reflect on art history.
Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid
It’s been a decade since Gigi Hadid, 31, and Zayn Malik, 33, made their red carpet debut at the Met Gala, turning up hand-in-hand wearing matching outfits playing into the evening’s theme of fashion-meets-technology.
However, in the years since the former One Direction star has reportedly been banned from the guest list after once telling GQ he would ‘rather be sitting in my house doing something productive, than dressing up in really expensive clothes and being photographed on a red carpet’. ‘To do the self-indulgent, “Look at me, I’m amazing” thing on the red carpet, it’s not me.’ Ouch.
Despite his brutal comments about the event (and his recent comments brutally saying he wasn’t sure if he was ever in love with Gigi), his ex doesn’t seem to care and has continued to attend every year – however is yet to do so with partner Bradley Cooper, 51, whom she’s been with since 2023.
But when speaking to Vogue on the carpet last night, she did mention her partner, with host Cara Delevingne then turning to the camera and telling Bradley: ‘You’re a lucky man.’ Despite the pair being yet to make a red carpet debut at any event, he was then seen heading into the Met later in the evening.
Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton
After once being reported to be banned from the Met Gala due to her status as a reality TV star, Kim Kardashian, 45, received a coveted invitation in 2013 when she attended with Kanye West.
For her debut she infamously wore in a custom floral Givenchy gown – which was compared to a couch. The couple attended the event several times together over the subsequent years but did so for the final time in 2019 – with Kim later filing for divorce two years later.
She’s not been shy about attending the event with partners – taking Pete Davidson along in 2022, but after riding solo while single the past few years, many expected her to attend with Lewis Hamilton, 41, who she was first linked to in February and whom she also attended the Super Bowl with.
Despite the pair not being shy at all in front of the cameras (and recently undertaking a conveniently timed make-out session in the ocean with paparazzi waiting in the wings), it’s reported the reason Lewis skipped last night’s event was due to needing a night off following the Miami Grand Prix. Looks like the couple’s hard launch will have to wait for now…
Hailey and Justin Bieber
The same year that she was first linked to Justin Bieber, Hailey, made her Met Gala debut in 2015.
Nearly three years after they tied the knot, the couple then attended together in 2021, however he’s yet to have returned to the Met Gala since then.
Who else skipped the 2026 Met Gala?
Zendaya
Bella Hadid
Ariana Grande
Taylor Swift
Sydney Sweeney
Taraji P. Henson
Despite riding solo last night, Hailey, 29, commanded plenty of attention with her custom Saint Laurent dress featuring a sculpted bodice made entirely of 24-karat gold. Which might have been a good decision after Justin has famously come under fire for failing to match her efforts when dressing for important events.
While many had believed Justin, 32, might be attending after making his return to performing at Coachella earlier this month, he doesn’t seem quite keen to attend red carpet events again just yet.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Just hours after it was revealed that her long-running legal battle with Justin Baldoni had reached a settlement, Blake Lively made a surprise appearance at the Met Gala.
The actress last attended in 2022 when she was a co-chair but turned heads last night when rocking up in an archival pastel Versace gown and a custom Judith Leiber Couture minaudière handbag that incorporated artwork created by her four children.
Despite this nod to her family, Blake’s husband Ryan did not attend alongside her.
They first attended together in 2014 but had both skipped the event over the past three years.
Which couples did actually attend together?
This year’s Met Gala may have seen several high-profile celebrity couples deciding not to attend together, but those who did included not only Rihanna and A$AP Rocky and Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
Although Russell Wilson and Ciara, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade and Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor also went together, the amount of power couples at the 2026 event sparkled a little less brightly than previous years.
The most notable snub of the event from a couple came from Callum Turner and Dua Lipa, who instead chose to spend the weekend in Copenhagen.
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