The Met Gala has always celebrated fashion as its most theatrical, but 2026 raised the stakes. With this year’s theme, ‘Fashion is Art’, the red carpet turned into a stage for artistic expression. Instead of playing it safe, the night leaned into bold expression, sculpted silhouettes, unexpected styles, and looks that felt closer to art installations than outfits.
From Karan Johar’s Raja Ravi Verma-inspired ensemble by Manish Malhotra to Malhotra’s own intricately crafted bandhgala layered with an architectural cape, and Sawai Padmanabh Singh’s heritage-rich Phulgar coat by Prabal Gurung, menswear moved beyond predictable tailoring into something deeply personal and expressive.
Here’s a closer look at men who stood out.
Karan Johar
Manish Malhotra
Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh
Hudson Williams
Skepta
Colman Domingo
Connor Storrie
Miles Chamley
Jeremy Pope
