From 1981 to 2025, these Met Gala beauty looks are the absolute best of all time.

      For enthusiasts of fashion and beauty, the Met Gala stands out as the most thrilling event of the year. This annual occasion, traditionally held on the first Monday of May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, sees an exclusive group of celebrities, designers, and occasionally royals, showcase the pinnacle of fashion to support the museum's Costume Institute. Each year features a unique theme, a multitude of photographers, and an extravagant red carpet teeming with glamorous attendees adorned in custom couture. However, it is often the hair, makeup, and nail details that elevate a look to its pinnacle. Each year, beauty editors (myself included) examine their screens meticulously, searching for the subtle elements that distinguish good looks from the exceptional. Indeed, Zendaya's villain-inspired glam with ‘20s-style eyes, drawn brows, and glossy, dark lips helped her Maison Margiela outfit achieve iconic status in 2024. Similarly, it wasn’t just Doechii's custom Louis Vuitton suit that made headlines during her 2025 Met Gala debut, but rather her blushed LV logo-shaped face stamp. Thus, when reminiscing about the most unforgettable Met Gala looks, we recognize how beauty enhances the statement of fashion.

      ### What to Know About the 2026 Met Gala

      - **Theme**: Costume Art, per a Vogue article

      - **Date**: Monday, May 4, 2026

      - **Co-chairs**: Beyoncé, Anna Wintour, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman

      - **How to Watch**: Streaming on Vogue.com, YouTube, and TikTok at 6 p.m. EST / 3 p.m. PST

      From the 1980s to the present, Who What Wear beauty editors have reviewed decades of Met Gala beauty styles to identify the finest of them all. Below are our top choices from Met Gala veterans like Rihanna to newcomers such as Chappell Roan.

      Cher at the 1985 Met Gala

      We can’t discuss iconic Met Gala beauty moments without highlighting Cher's striking eye look from 1985. True to ‘80s style, the singer enhanced her eyes with vibrant violet eyeshadow and black kohl lining her lashes—a look that somehow feels timeless despite its strong nostalgic overtones.

      Zendaya at the 2024 Met Gala

      “Zendaya's makeup from the 2024 Met Gala has been etched in my memory for two years now,” comments WWW beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock. “The theme that year was 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,' and she fully embraced a 1920s-inspired aesthetic with vinyl oxblood lips, dramatic red eyeshadow, and slender brows. It was a captivating blend of Maleficent and flapper styles that left me speechless.”

      Lady Gaga at the 2019 Met Gala

      In 2019, many attendees brought their most campy looks to the iconic steps. A standout for me was Lady Gaga's artful eye makeup, featuring graphic eyeliner, a vibrant pink lip perfectly complementing her fuchsia Brandon Maxwell gown, and the most extreme metallic false lashes I’ve ever seen. This look is one I won’t forget, even as time passes.

      Rihanna at the 2017 Met Gala

      “Rihanna consistently wows at the Met Gala, but this particular makeup from 2017 has stayed with me,” states WWW assistant beauty editor Sabrina Talbert. “While the outfit itself is stunning, the exaggerated blush dramatically enhances her look, making her eyes pop. I also loved how she paired it with a berry-toned lip. Given the current enthusiasm for blush, it seems she was ahead of her time with this look.”

      Gigi Hadid at the 2024 Met Gala

      Gigi Hadid is the unsung beauty chameleon of the Met Gala. Since 2015, she has continually impressed with her looks, adapting her hair and makeup style each year. In 2024, she showcased her signature vintage pinup hairstyle, shaping her bob into glamorous curls and finishing off with coordinated red lips and cheeks.

      Lupita Nyong'o at the 2019 Met Gala

      One thing is certain: Lupita Nyong'o knows how to fully embrace a theme. At the 2019 “Camp” theme, she sparkled with glittery eyes and brows (which she later brought back in 2025), enhanced by symbolic gold hair combs nestled throughout her hair.

      Lily Collins at the 2019 Met Gala

      “I adore it when celebrities adhere to the annual theme of the Met Gala, but I love it even more when they fully embrace it,” shares McLintock. “Lily Collins exemplifies this. At the 2019 Met Gala, she arrived with bright lilac eyeshadow and a towering bouffant adorned with flowers. The theme, that year, was 'Camp: Notes on Fashion,' and she executed it perfectly.”

      Ariana Grande at the