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Although it may not seem like it, the Met Gala is a notoriously private event. When we think of fashion’s biggest night, we usually think of the red carpet, which takes over social media every first Monday in May thanks to the stream of celebrities who 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 from Stevie Nicks and Sabrina Carpenter). A select number of photographers get access to cute inside moments (including Andrew Tess, who shot some starry Polaroid images exclusively for Harper’s Bazaar). But cell phone photography and social media use is strictly prohibited, so we rarely get shots from within the gala, save for those iconic bathroom selfies.
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. Take Alexa Chung, who captured some artful film snaps of her fellow attendees, like the Heated Rivalry boys, 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).
1) Lily-Rose Depp, Gracie Abrams, Jennie, Ayo Edebiri, Bhavitha Mandava, and Awar Odhiang
Photo credit: Gracie Abrams / Instagram
2) Lisa, Jisoo, Rosé, Bhavitha Mandava, Audrey Nuna, Ejae, Margot Robbie, Ayo Edebiri, Gracie Abrams, Awar Odhiang, Jennie, and Rachel Sennott
Photo credit: Bhavitha Mandava / Instagram
3) Ayo Edebiri, Gracie Abrams, Bhavitha Mandava, Jennie, and Awar Odhiang
Photo credit: Awar Odhiang / Instagram
4) Rosé and Connor Storrie
Photo credit: Rosé / Instagram
5) Rosé, Tate McRae, and Jung Ho-yeon
Photo credit: Rosé / Instagram
6) Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams
Photo credit: Hudson Williams / Instagram
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