The 2026 Met Gala, held on the first Monday in May, saw a host of A-list celebrities gracing the red carpet at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, several major stars were notably absent, choosing to skip the event amid controversy over Jeff Bezos' sponsorship, family disputes, and prior commitments.
Controversy Surrounding Jeff Bezos' Sponsorship
This year's theme, 'Fashion is Art', brought out elaborate costumes, including Heidi Klum as a marble statue and Sabrina Carpenter in rhinestoned film strips. But the glamour was overshadowed by backlash against lead sponsors Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez. Protest posters across New York City called for a boycott, citing worker exploitation and Amazon's ties to ICE. Organisations like the Service Employees International Union and the Amazon Labour Union staged a 'Ball Without Billionaires' protest.
Timothée Chalamet
Despite his girlfriend Kylie Jenner attending, Timothée Chalamet opted for the NBA playoffs, watching the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This marks the second year he chose basketball over the gala.
Brooklyn Beckham
A former Met Gala regular, Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz skipped the event for the second year running. Speculation suggests they avoided a potential run-in with his brother Romeo, who made his Met Gala debut. Brooklyn recently cut ties with his family, accusing his parents of control and online attacks.
Bella Hadid
The model made her stance clear by liking posts critical of Bezos' involvement, including one referencing ICE pins. She joined others in boycotting the event due to Bezos' connections.
Taraji P. Henson
Last year's attendee Taraji P. Henson also sat out, expressing confusion on social media about those who chose to attend. She highlighted the wealth disparity between Bezos and Amazon workers.
Zohran Mamdani
Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke tradition by not attending, focusing instead on making the city more affordable.
Lisa Ann Walter
The 'Abbott Elementary' star joined protesters on the streets, criticising Bezos for using the gala to boost his ego. She called him a 'Temu Lex Luthor' profiting from worker exploitation.
Zendaya
After hosting the gala in previous years, Zendaya took a break from publicity, skipping the event to rest following back-to-back press tours for 'The Drama' and 'Euphoria'.
Ariana Grande and Others
Ariana Grande missed her second consecutive Met Gala, reportedly preparing for her 'Eternal Sunshine Tour' and eighth album. Olivia Rodrigo was busy with her third album, and Demi Lovato with her 'It's Not That Deep' tour. Harry Styles also skipped, likely due to tour preparations for 'Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally'.
Meryl Streep
The 'Devil Wears Prada' star never attends the Met Gala, with reps saying it's 'never quite been her scene'.
Callum Turner and Dua Lipa
The couple, who made their Met Gala debut last year, chose a holiday in Denmark instead. Sydney Sweeney was in Australia, and Sadie Sink performed in 'Romeo & Juliet' in London's West End.
Despite the absences, the Met Gala remained a star-studded affair, but the snubs highlighted growing dissent over its corporate ties and personal conflicts.
