"Fashion is Art": How Indian Celebrities Stole the Spotlight at the Met Gala 2026
The first Monday of May has officially passed, which means the most highly anticipated night in global fashion just took place. The Met Gala 2026 rolled out the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and this year, the Indian contingent absolutely dominated the steps.
With this year's theme being "Costume Art" and the official dress code translating to "Fashion Is Art," attendees were challenged to blur the lines between high fashion garments and museum-worthy artistic exhibits. The Indian celebrities who attended took this challenge to heart, beautifully combining ancient Indian craftsmanship with avant-garde modern couture.
From 1,800-carat heirloom diamonds to capes honoring local artisans, here is a complete breakdown of what the biggest Indian celebrities wore to the 2026 Met Gala!
Isha Ambani: A 500-Hour Masterpiece
When it comes to the Met Gala, Isha Ambani never misses. Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, the businesswoman wore a breathtaking custom gown by designer Gaurav Gupta.
She redefined opulence by wearing a gold-woven tissue saree seamlessly integrated with a sculptural cape. But the real showstopper was her blouse. It featured over 1,800 carats of heirloom diamonds and gemstones, including emeralds, polki, and kundan sourced directly from her mother Nita Ambani’s private collection.
Taking 40 artisans over 500 hours to create, the outfit featured intricate zardozi and nakshi embroidery. She finished the look with a historic Mughal-era sarpech and a crystal-encrusted mango bag—a brilliant artistic homage to Mumbai’s famous Alphonso mangoes!
Karan Johar: Bringing Raja Ravi Varma to New York
Making a massive statement, Bollywood powerhouse Karan Johar brought cinematic flair and classic Indian art to the global stage.
He wore a custom couture ensemble by his close friend and designer Manish Malhotra. The outfit was heavily inspired by the legendary paintings of Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma. The piece featured exquisite hand-painted panels alongside sculptural motifs of pillars, lotuses, and swans, framed by heavy zardozi borders.
Taking over 5,600 hours of combined painting and embroidery to craft, Johar proved that Indian cinema and classical art are perfectly suited for the Met Gala steps.
Manish Malhotra: Honoring the Artisans
Not only did Manish Malhotra dress Karan Johar, but the designer himself also walked the carpet and delivered one of the most meaningful looks of the night.
Malhotra wore a classic black bandhgala, but elevated it to fit the "Fashion Is Art" theme by adding a dramatic, sweeping cape. The cape was meticulously embroidered with the names and actual signatures of the 50+ artisans who helped create it, alongside beautiful motifs of iconic Mumbai landmarks. It was a beautiful, 960-hour tribute to the invisible hands that power global couture.
Natasha Poonawalla & Ananya Birla: Avant-Garde Excellence
Businesswoman and fashion icon Natasha Poonawalla leaned heavily into the sculptural aspect of the theme. She wore a dramatic white couture gown by Domenico Dolce, but the centerpiece was a wearable sculptural piece called the “Orchid Pectoral” by artist Marc Quinn.
Meanwhile, singer and entrepreneur Ananya Birla made a striking debut in a Robert Wun ensemble, seamlessly paired with a collaborative artistic element from celebrated Indian artist Subodh Gupta. Both women perfectly executed the modern "art-meets-couture" aesthetic.
The International A-List: Beyoncé, Zendaya, and K-Pop Royalty
While the Indian contingent brought incredible heritage to the red carpet, the international stars delivered the high-fashion drama the Met Gala is famous for. This year was particularly historic due to the co-chairs and surprise appearances!
Beyoncé Returns: The biggest news of the night was the official return of Queen Bey! After skipping the Met Gala for a decade, Beyoncé returned as one of the 2026 event's official co-chairs, instantly shutting down the red carpet with her jaw-dropping interpretation of the "Costume Art" theme.
Zendaya & Rihanna: The undisputed queens of the Met Gala did not disappoint. Both Zendaya and Rihanna (accompanied by A$AP Rocky) arrived late in the evening, delivering the kind of massive, viral fashion moments that will be talked about for years.
The Kardashian-Jenners: It wouldn't be a Met Gala without them. Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner were all in attendance, with Kim once again wearing one of the most discussed and heavily structured outfits of the night.
K-Pop Domination: The global influence of K-Pop was stronger than ever. BLACKPINK’s Lisa actually served as a co-chair and host committee member this year! She was joined by her groupmate Rosé, alongside massive representation from other K-Pop idols.
Other Notable Attendees: The star-studded guest list also included co-chairs Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams, alongside Anne Hathaway, Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, and Zoë Kravitz.
