The best pictures from inside the 2026 Met Gala

After the red carpet, the real excitement kicks off...

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Stephanie Augello/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

Lauren RamsayDeputy Digital Editor

Updated: May 5, 2026May 5, 2026, 10:03 AM GMT+1

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The Met Gala red carpet may deliver the headlines but everyone knows that the real magic kicks off once the red carpet closes and the paparazzi head home.

Beyond those famous museum steps, the 2026 Met Gala is a glittering after-hours playground of fancy food (although famously, no onions, garlic or chives are served for fear of breath issues), surprise performances and celebrity worlds colliding (who could forget Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston dancing the night away in 2016, kickstarting a short but sweet romance.)

Laura Harrier's incredible Met Gala bathroom selfie - she wears a white dress and takes a picture in the mirror surrounded by celebrities including Sara Snook and Andrew Scott — Laura Harrier's incredible Met Gala bathroom selfie

This year's theme, Costume Art was one of the most exciting yet, with the dress code Fashion is Art inviting celebrities to step out of their comfort zone, and we love imagining J. Lo and Beyoncé having a gossip in the ladies loo as they dissect each other's outfits.

In the past, we've been treated to absolutely epic bathroom selfies and snaps of Ed Sheeran and Chris Hemsworth having a cheeky kiss. And who could forget Jared Leto carting his giant Choupette costume head round the museum post red-carpet?