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Although it may not seem like it,the Met Galais a notoriously private event. When we think offashion’s biggest night, we usually think of thered carpet, which takes over social media every first Monday in May thanks to thestream of celebritieswho bring their extravagant looks to the Met steps, interpreting the theme of the Costume Institute’s coinciding exhibit. (This year, that theme was“Costume Art,”and the dress code “Fashion Is Art.”) However, once the carpet wraps, we don’t know much about what actually occurs inside the event.
What we do know is that there’s usually a dinner, and some special performances (this year that meant mini concerts fromStevie Nicks and Sabrina Carpenter). A select number of photographers get access to cute inside moments (including Andrew Tess, who shot somestarry Polaroid imagesexclusively forHarper’s Bazaar). But cell phone photography and social media use is strictly prohibited, so we rarely get shots from within the gala, save for thoseiconic bathroom selfies.
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Still, there are some stars who choose to bend the rules a bit and sneak some photos when they’re at the black-tie event—and we thank them for that. TakeAlexa Chung, who captured some artful film snaps of her fellow attendees, liketheHeated Rivalryboys,Ayo Edebiri,Lila Moss,Charli XCX, and more.
Ahead, see all the secret photos that celebrities took from within the 2026 Met Gala (and pray that they don’t get taken down when the annual chairperson catches wind of their existence).
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