Lalisa (Lisa) Manobal of BLACKPINK

Thai-born Lisa — real name Lalisa Manobal — made history at this year’s gala as the first K-pop artist ever named to the Met Gala host committee. A global ambassador for Celine, she is one of K-pop’s most bankable luxury fashion faces and has attended the gala in prior years, but her committee role this time marks a new level of institutional recognition. She clearly got the costume brief, with a dramatic Robert Wun ensemble featuring extra hands holding up her veil.

ROSÉ of BLACKPINK

Rosé — born Roseanne Park in New Zealand and raised in Australia — is one of BLACKPINK’s most high-profile solo acts, having released her debut solo album rosie in 2024. She is a Saint Laurent ambassador and is representing YSL at this year’s gala. Her looks in the past have always revolved around a consistently simple black silhouette, with this year being no different. A large bird brooch on her waist referencing the SS 1988 collection adds a touch of much-needed excitement on a night themed “Fashion is art”.

Jisoo of BLACKPINK

This year marks Jisoo’s first-ever Met Gala appearance, a notable milestone given that her bandmates Lisa, Rosé, and Jennie have all attended in prior years.

As a global ambassador for Dior, it makes sense her debut outfit is a glittering Dior number, bedazzled even more with Cartier jewellery.

JENNIE of BLACKPINK

Jennie — born Kim Jennie in South Korea and raised partly in New Zealand — arrived last among the four BLACKPINK members on the carpet, wearing a strapless silver Chanel gown by new creative director Matthieu Blazy, constructed from 15,000 hand-sewn sequined leaves that took 540 hours to complete, per E! Online and Billboard. She accessorised with gold and white diamond earrings also by Chanel, and told Vogue on the carpet, “I feel like a mosaic artwork come alive.” A Chanel fixture since her debut on the global fashion circuit, Jennie made her first Met Gala appearance in 2023 as one of the final muses personally selected by the late Karl Lagerfeld. She was also named to TIME’s 2026 list of the 100 most influential people, with Gracie Abrams writing her tribute.

Alysa Liu

The 19-year-old American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist made her Met Gala debut at this year’s event in a custom Louis Vuitton gown, having been announced as a Louis Vuitton house ambassador just the day before. Her stylist Katie Qian told Vogue correspondents the gown was conceived as a "dissected" dress — designed to evoke a cross-section of the human body, with ruffles shaped to suggest muscle striations and the internal structure of a cell, simultaneously exposing the architectural construction of the garment itself. Liu described it to Vogue as "anatomically inspired," noting that the design sought to exaggerate and play with the skirt's structure.

I’m not sure if it’s giving all that, but that is for sure a stunning color on her.

Karan Johar

One of Bollywood’s most recognisable filmmakers — director of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, among many others — made his Met Gala debut at this year’s event. It was a two-for-one on Indian presence on the red carpet, because Johar was dressed by star designer Manish Malhotra.

His grand ensemble was decked iwth paintings inspired by iconic Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma, a Malayali aristocrat whose work has enthused much of India’s royal creative aesthetic.

EJAE

Korean-American singer songwriter EJAE’s massive year continues, off the back of Netflix juggernaut KPop Demon Hunters, for which she was the singing voice of lead character Rumi. At her Met Gala debut, she dripped with crystals in head to toe Swarovski.

Simone Ashley

British-Indian actress Simone Ashley, known globally for playing Kate Sharma in Bridgerton and recently for her role in The Devil Wears Prada 2, attended the 2026 Met Gala in a metallic draped dress from Stella McCartney, accessorised with a short, swept fringe and a slicked back ponytail.

It was a big night for the Wasian girlies, and none as lover girl as Laufey herself. The Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter — born Laufey Liný Jónsdóttir — walked the carpet in a custom Tory Burch textured cream-coloured cape dress, per Yahoo Entertainment's live coverage. She was photographed alongside actress Camila Morrone and Tory Burch herself. Known for her jazz-inflected pop and breakout album Bewitched, Laufey has become one of the most streamed artists of her generation.

Cai Xukun

You might not have heard of him before, but the Chinese singer and rapper, also known simply as Kun, is one of China’s most prominent pop exports. This is his second outing on the Met Gala carpet, the first being in 2023 in tribute to Karl Lagerfeld. Per Teen Vogue’s Donya Momenian, his Thom Browne outfit is a wink at his upcoming single “Deadman” from his new album. “I’m like bleeding right here,” he told Teen Vogue on the carpet, gesturing to his jacket.

Karina of aespa

Karina — born Yoo Ji-min — is the leader of SM Entertainment group aespa, one of the leading fourth-generation K-pop acts globally. She attended as a Prada representative, keeping her makeup minimal in a white and black hanbok. Green and purple drop earrings added a pop of color.

Ningning of aespa

Chinese-born Ningning — full name Ning Yizhuo, a member of SM Entertainment’s aespa — attended the 2026 Met Gala as a Gucci global ambassador, making her and fellow member Karina the first and second fourth-generation female K-pop idols to attend the event.

Ahn Hyo Seop

Attention fan-people everywhere — Jinu has entered the building. The Korean actor was already known internationally for K-dramas like Business Proposal and Sold Out on You, but he’s been in the news a whole lot more for his outing as the superhot, morally conflicted demon in megahit KPop Demon Hunters. Ahn made his Met Gala debut in partnership with Valentino, confirmed by his management company The Present Company via Instagram. He is the first Korean actor to attend the Met Gala in eleven years. He has previously appeared on The Tonight Show and attended the Academy Awards, making this his self-described "global triple crown."

Eileen Gu

Chinese-American freestyle skier and three-time Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu attended the gala in bubbly Iris Van Herpen (there were literal bubble blowing around her on the carpet). Only 22 years old, Gu has become one of luxury fashion’s most prominent athlete faces since her 2022 Beijing Winter Games breakthrough and more recently, her 2026 Milan outing.

Audrey Nuna

Korean-American singer and rapper Audrey Nuna — known for blending R&B, rap, and also for the singing voice of Mira in KPop Demon Hunters — attended wearing Robert Wun in an inspired black and white paint-splash look very much giving 101 Dalmatians.

Princess Gauravi Kumari of Jaipur

A member of the Jaipur royal family and a prominent face in Indian high society and fashion circles, the princess wore a chiffon sari that was originally part of her grandmother, Maharani Gayatri Devi’s wardrobe, per Vogue India. The sari was then reworked into a gown for the carpet by Nepali designer Prabal Gurung, who also took the carpet with her.

Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh

Gurung also dressed actual king (or Maharaja) Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur — a polo player and increasingly visible presence in the global fashion and luxury world.

The main attraction of his look was the coat made of phulgar, a traditional hand-quilted, deep-velvet royal garment from Rajasthan. “Developed with Gurung and realised in Jaipur by Yash and Ashima Tholia and their team, the piece is constructed in deep velvet, quilted with cotton, and completed over more than 600 hours with aari and zardozi embroidery, finished with dabka and resham,” says the Vogue India piece.

Naomi Osaka

Japanese-American tennis star and four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka delivered one of the night’s most theatrical moments in her first Met Gala appearance in five years. She wore two custom looks by Hong Kong-born designer Robert Wun (who also dressed LISA and Audrey Nuna): arriving first in a sculptural white gown with exaggerated shoulders, red feathered detailing, and a matching headpiece by London milliner Awon Golding, accessorised with sheer red gloves and LAGOS jewellery.

On the steps of the Met, she was assisted in removing the white overcoat to reveal a second look underneath — a form-fitting all-red gown — performing a live costume change on the carpet itself.

Speaking to Variety at the event, Osaka described the concept as "the shedding of the skin and the human anatomy." The Washington Times noted that a similar Robert Wun look sits inside the Costume Institute's "Costume Art" exhibition, making her choice one of the evening's most directly engaged with the theme.

Chase Sui Wonders

Chinese-American actress Chase Sui Wonders — known for Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Studio, and as one of this year’s Met Gala host committee members — wore an Alexander McQueen purple gown to the event, styled by Thomas Carter Phillips and accessorised with a McQueen bag, a Wolford bodysuit, Amina Muaddi shoes, and Tiffany & Co. jewellery, per Who What Wear and Hollywood Reporter. Speaking to E! Online’s Zuri Hall on the carpet, Wonders explained that the look was directly inspired by a recent trip to Pompeii, where she was struck by ancient Roman wall paintings from around 200 B.C. "I loved how they were just so raw and natural and yet so beautiful," she told them, describing the gown as a nod to the preserved pigments and wall reliefs she encountered there.

Hudson Williams

Canadian actor Hudson Williams, who broke through globally as Shane Hollander in HBO Max’s queer hockey romance Heated Rivalry, made his Met Gala debut in a custom Balenciaga look designed by Pierpaolo Piccioli, per Today and Yahoo Entertainment. The matador-inspired ensemble consisted of a pale blue bolero jacket with ornate black trim and tassels worn open over an unbuttoned white shirt, matching trousers with a black train along the seam, and a diamond choker, per E! Online and Hollywood Reporter. He completed the look with dramatic red and blue chrome eyeshadow, which he told Vogue was inspired by the film Black Swan, a nod to bringing a cinematic reference to fashion’s biggest night.

Jung Ho Yeon

This article about Asian star power at the 2026 Met Gala is updating live. Check back in for new looks!