PAUSE Highlights: The Standout Moments from the Met Gala 2026

The Met Gala may have finished, but there is still a lot of conversation to be had around it, from controversies and a high-street debut to the lifting of “under-18s'” restrictions and the return of a queen. PAUSE breaks down the Met Gala moments of 2026.

Controversies

Bhavitha Mandava made history as the first ever Indian model to open the Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026 show in a quarter-zip and denim. For the gala, she arrived in a couture version of the same look, but who knew that such a simple outfit would cause so much controversy? Well for starters, her outfit was described as being far less glamorous than her fellow house ambassadors like Jennie Kim, Margot Robbie, and model Awar Odhiang who she was pictured with. It sparked a debate in the South Asian community, with some feeling that Chanel should have made more of an effort for their ambassador. Stylist Ozzy Shah participated in the conversation. In an Instagram reel, he stated that unlike her counterparts who wore corsets and heavy materials, she was allowed to move freely in line with Coco Chanel’s vision. He added that look was thought-provoking, as is art itself.

Plunging sweet-heart necklines, hanging straps, and fitted gowns worn by Claire Foy, Julianne Moore, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley gave a gentle nod to John Sargent’s infamous “Madame X” painting of the Louisiana-born socialite Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau. Honorary co-chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos offered the closest modern interpretation with a corset back and jewelled, falling strap depicting the original work that Sargent faced backlash over. Sánchez Bezos and her husband were themselves embroiled in a controversy around their involvement with the Met Gala with supporters calling for a boycott, leading us to question if she is our present-day Madame X?

Other Silicon Valley members attended, like Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, who wore Prada and Alaïa respectively. The tech industry’s entrance into a fashion event raised the eyebrows of Sarah Paulson. Titling her look ‘The One Percent’, she sported a destroyed tulle gown by Matières Fécales and the ‘Blinded by Money’ leather mask that displayed the greed that mass wealth yields. However, with Met Gala tickets going up to around a $75,000 mark, is Paulson justified in her criticism?

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Zara's Debut

Zara had dressed not one but three names, including Stevie Nicks, Bad Bunny, and Inditex’s chair Marta Ortega. As usual, Bad Bunny continued to push the boundaries in creative expression, jokingly saying that it took him fifty-three years to get ready this time. He worked with prosthetic artist Mike Marino to turn his body and, namely, face into a canvas. The result? An 85-year-old Bad Bunny who symbolised the “Ageing Body” portraits at the Met Museum. Details were closely attended to, such as the translucency of colour in veins and visible blood vessels in an extraordinary display of moving art. Speaking to Vogue, he mentioned that “fashion ages, but the art within it doesn’t expire. It doesn’t get old. Of course, our bodies might age, but what we carry inside doesn’t, right?” Following on from his Super Bowl performance in a Zara look, Benito opted for a classic black tuxedo with a pussy-cat bow from his upcoming collection with the retailer. By choosing to wear a high street brand over a luxury fashion label, he continues to reinforce accessibility and connection with the masses.

After the surprise announcement of John Galliano partnering up with Zara, it left many wondering how he would turn his talent to cater for the high-street brand. Well, the Met Gala provided the first glimpse into his vision for Zara. Stevie Nicks wore a custom midnight blue taffeta gown with a top hat from Stephen Jones. No clear reference was provided, but by considering Galliano’s four-decade-long work in fashion, a reference was not needed.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue.

Celebrating Asian Heritage

Whether it was through paintings or figurative expression, Asian heritage was celebrated. Robert Wun, Hong Kong born designer, created for other PAUSE favourites of the night like Gustav Magnar Witzoe, Audrey Nuna and Naomi Osaka, but it was his creation for Blackpink’s Lisa that honoured traditional Thai dance. Integrating Lisa’s heritage with her own dancing talent, Wun’s team took a 3D scan of her arms and attached it to the back of her dress – turning Lisa into a Vasudhara-like goddess for her second Met appearance. Bvlgari jewels adorned her manufactured arms along with a sapphire necklace on her real neck.

In a look that took eighty six days to create, Karan Johar was styled by Manish Malhotta. Famed Indian painter, Raja Ravi Varma’s imagery was placed on Johar’s robe and jacket that was all hand-painted even down to the lining. Varnished acrylic and oil finishes were used, so that the garments resembled their actual counterparts. In conversation with Vogue, Johar states that “Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings are full of fabric, of drape, of the way cloth moves and what that movement reveals about the person wearing it.” – showcasing his commitment to art, culture, and fashion.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

Kids Hit the Carpet for the First Time

Anna Wintour broke her own rule of “no under-18s” being allowed therefore enabling fourteen-year-old Blue Ivy Carter and seventeen-year-old Sunday Rose Kidman Urban to attend. Sunday Rose wore a custom strapless floral-embossed top and skirt from Dior with their Backstage Glow Maximiser palette used to highlight her collarbones. She mentioned that she watched the Met Gala every year and was finally excited to be able to attend with her mother, Nicole Kidman. Blue Ivy also opted for a strapless piece but from Balenciaga with a matching white bomber jacket, adorning it with a Henry & Henry diamond necklace. Beyonce got emotional to share her first Met Gala moment with her daughter.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Getty Images.

Beyoncé Returns

After a ten-year hiatus, Beyoncé returned to the Met Gala as a co-chair alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. Having worn a latex peach Givenchy gown back for the 2016 gala, she made her comeback in two distinct looks. Her second act was Robert Wun’s fit-and-flare ‘Stargaze’ gown with embroidered Swarovski crystals and a matching veil. Meanwhile for her first act, Bey tapped her loyal past collaborator Olivier Rousteing, who recently departed from Balmain. No different to the dazzling spectacle of her second look, this skeletal ensemble contoured her figure with Chopard diamonds and came with a dramatic train. It did receive mixed reactions, and perhaps Robert Wun’s gown would have been a better pick for the carpet. What do you think?