Beauty is Art: MECCA HQ’s Favourite Looks from the 2026 Met Gala
May 5 | 5 minute read
Words by Madeleine Boles de Boer
Held on the first Monday in May, the annual fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute is the biggest day in the fashion (and beauty) calendar. More daring than the Oscars and more experimental than the Grammys, it’s the one night of the year where designers and their celebrity clientele really go for it, sending their biggest, boldest and most beautiful looks up the steps of The Met – this year, complete with trompe l’oeil moss!
The theme of this year’s Costume Institute exhibition is Costume Art; however, this is not to be confused with the dress code for the Met Gala, which for 2026 is ‘Fashion is Art’. Less niche than previous years, the 2026 Gala provided plenty of opportunity for creativity (and sparkle – lots of sparkle).
From bedazzled cheeks to brow-grazing eyeshadow, read on to see MECCA HQ’s best beauty looks from the 2026 Met Gala, and how we would recreate them at home
Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban
It was a mother-daughter hair-to-the-waist moment for our Australian co-chair Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban this year. “I wanted the hair to serve as that quiet, unspoken thread that connects them – woven through femininity, strength, and artistry while still allowing each of their individual expressions to shine,” their hairstylist Adir Abergel told Vogue. The key to such sleek and straight lengths: a smoothing hair oil, such as Briogeo Style + Treat™ 4-in-1 Weightless Hair Oil.
Kidman’s makeup, done by none other than Gucci Westman of Westman Atelier, seemed to reflect the flecks of red sequins from her custom Chanel dress across her eyelids, cheeks and lips – perhaps the masterful placement of Baby Cheeks Blush across all three? – Julia, Content Manager
Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain's kaleidoscopic Mugler look was the first one I saw when I dutifully opened Instagram this morning, and it just so happens to be my favourite of the day. Attending for a sixth year as Vogue’s celebrity correspondent, Emma paired the painterly gown (an homage to her dad's oil paintings – real Anything Goes listeners know) with a lilac-and-lemon eye look by makeup artist Lilly Keys.
Perhaps it's my years on Tumblr showing – or the effect of my own diabolical sleeping schedule – but I'm partial to a grungy, slept-in makeup look. Dark under-eyes can be beautiful, as they are here against Emma's peroxide pixie cut. The eye look itself is dreamy, and I love the inner-corner pop of yellow – it's inspiring me to pick up the Morphe Python Code Eyeshadow Palette I have stashed away at home. – Izzy, Beauty Writer
Keke Palmer
Is there such a thing as too much red? Baby, this is Keke Palmer! From her feathered pixie cut to the tips of her French manicure, the multihyphenate star – actress, singer, podcaster, Hot Ones legend and origin of this writer’s most-used memes – was a vision in crimson, matched to her shimmering Prabal Gurung gown. For beauty, makeup artist Kenya Alexis understood the brief: a ruby-toned smoky eye, perfectly diffused blush and my personal standout, scarlet lips sculpted with burgundy liner.
Recreate the look by precisely defining your lips with Fara Homidi Beauty’s Smudge & Contour Lip Pencil in ‘Bruni’ (pro tip: apply with a lip brush) or Morphe’s Soulmatte Filling Gel Liner in ‘Compatible’. Then, fill in the centre with the matte red lipstick of your choice – M·A·C Cosmetics’ classic Maxcimal Silky Matte in ‘Lady Danger’ comes to mind, or perhaps Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Velvet Matte in ‘Royal Red'. – Arabella, Chief Sub-Editor
Odessa A'zion
Darling of Marty Supreme, I Love L.A. and my heart, Odessa A’zion was glittering at her very first Met Gala. Wearing a bold Valentino look, the star got to work before her debut, doing her own hair and makeup (!). She opted for a pared-back complexion to let everything else shine – literally – with a smattering of rhinestones across her cheeks, nose and forehead. While the volume of sparkle might be a bit much for every day, I’ll be paying homage to A’zion’s look with one or two well-placed Half Magic Face Gems, a fluffier-than-usual brow and skipping the mascara. – Maddy, Content Producer
Colman Domingo
It appears actor Colman Domingo has taken note from the makeup chair during his time on Euphoria, with a very Donni Davy-coded eye look: a flash of metallic blue at the inner corner. A strategic move perhaps, after hosting the pre-Met Gala party the night before? Nothing distracts from dark circles like well-placed sheen. The sky-blue shade is a perfect tie-in to the patchwork on his Valentino ensemble, inspired by Basquiat’s ‘Pez Dispenser’ (1984). The skin – seamless and illuminated – has us reaching for the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, while the blush is draped in a soft C-shape across the temples to lift and sculpt. A bold yet modern beauty look from the men’s section.– Romy, Content Director
Adwoa Aboah
Skin that looks like skin and a lived-in blue eyeshadow? Tell me you’re wearing Fara Homidi without telling me you’re wearing Fara Homidi!
British model, actress and entrepreneur Adwoa Aboah appeared on the steps for the first time since her 2024 baby bump reveal, this time in Simone Rocha. The juxtaposing ensemble of white corsetry and lace was complemented by suitably ethereal makeup. While not confirmed (yet), MUA, brand founder and friend of MECCA Fara Homidi has hinted to being the brains behind the beauty on her socials.
Aboah’s freckles shone through her luminous, barely-there base – likely achieved with the Essential Face Compact’s innovative duo. The Essential Eye Compact continues to make a case for blue eyeshadow, adding a wash of colour without distracting via a soft, diffused application. Divine. – Maddy, Content Producer
