At the Met Gala 2026 in New York, Indian art, craft, and heritage took centre stage as celebrities showcased elaborate outfits inspired by both historical and contemporary Indian aesthetics, under the theme “Costume Art” and the dress code “Fashion is Art.”
The event highlighted influences ranging from Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic works and the Ajanta cave paintings to modern artist Subodh Gupta, alongside traditional crafts such as zardozi, ari, dabka, kalamkari, and Bengal’s shola work.
Indian celebrities and designers collaborated with artisans to create highly detailed ensembles that required hundreds to thousands of hours of craftsmanship.
Industrialist Isha Ambani wore a sari-inspired ensemble by Gaurav Gupta featuring over 1,000 diamonds and 1,800 carats of gemstones, along with motifs inspired by Ajanta frescoes.
Sudha Reddy appeared in a regal lehenga paired with a USD 15 million diamond-and-tanzanite necklace.
Ananya Birla collaborated with Subodh Gupta and designer Robert Wun, wearing a sculptural stainless-steel mask symbolising strength and anonymity.
Filmmaker Karan Johar made his debut in a cape designed by Manish Malhotra that referenced Ravi Varma’s paintings, developed over 5,600 hours with over 50 artisans.
Philanthropist Natasha Poonawala wore a sculptural orchid-inspired gown by Marc Quinn and Dolce & Gabbana.
Gauravi Kumari and Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur’s royal family wore outfits drawing from royal heritage, including references to Maharani Gayatri Devi’s wardrobe.
Designer Manish Malhotra also wore a heavily embroidered bandhgala cape featuring artisan signatures, while fashion consultant Diya Mehta Jatia highlighted Bengal’s traditional shola craft in her ensemble.
Many outfits blended textiles, sculpture, embroidery, and painting, reflecting India’s layered artistic traditions.
The gala, co-chaired by global figures including Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour, is an invitation-only fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, with tickets costing around USD 100,000 per person.
While celebrated for its cultural spectacle and fundraising role, the Met Gala also drew criticism, particularly over sponsorship controversies involving Amazon leadership and concerns about labour practices.
Overall, Indian participation stood out for merging heritage crafts with high fashion, turning the red carpet into a showcase of living art and cultural storytelling. (PTI)
