The 2026 Met Gala, fashion's biggest night, was missing one of its most anticipated attendees: Meryl Streep. The 76-year-old actress, who recently reprised her iconic role as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2, was absent from the Monday evening event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Streep's absence surprised many fans, especially given her portrayal of the fictionalized Vogue editor-in-chief, a character inspired by real-life Vogue legend Anna Wintour. However, Streep's representative revealed that she has never attended a Met Gala and had no plans to start now, stating, 'It has never quite been her scene.'
The representative told People magazine, 'Meryl has been invited to the Met Gala for many years but has never attended. While she appreciates Vogue, Anna, and her incredible imagination and stamina, it has never quite been her scene.'
The star-studded guest list included Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Bad Bunny, and Blake Lively, among others. However, several other A-listers, such as Zendaya, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Justin Bieber, also missed the event.
The gala's dress code was 'fashion is art,' complementing the overall theme of 'costume art.' The Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibition paired historical and contemporary garments from the Costume Institute, divided into categories like the classical body, aging bodies, and the anatomical body.
Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos, worth an estimated $224.2 billion, and his wife, Lauren Sanchez, were major sponsors of the event. Billionaires like Michael Bloomberg, Mark Zuckerberg, and Isha Ambani also walked the red carpet.
Despite the clear theme, some celebrities missed the mark with their outfits, while others, like Sarah Paulson, used their looks for social commentary. Blake Lively, who recently settled her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, made a surprise appearance in archival Versace. Kylie Jenner wore a nearly nude Schiaparelli ensemble, Katy Perry donned an alien-inspired bridal look, and Kim Kardashian arrived in a metallic orange sculptural outfit by Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem.
This year's gala marked Anna Wintour's first in her new role as Vogue's global creative director and chief content officer for Condé Nast. Chloe Malle took over as head of editorial content for US Vogue. However, the two were barely seen together on the red carpet, with Malle arriving solo in a marigold-orange chiffon gown by Colleen Allen, inspired by the painting Flaming June. Wintour wore a dramatic turquoise and black feathered jacket by Chanel, paired with her signature sunglasses and bob.
