This year’s Met Gala proved a rich source of nail inspiration. There were neutral, beige and natural manicures, worn by Kendall Jenner and Margot Robbie. Ayo Edebiri updated the chrome, glazed nail trend with a shimmering, metallic silver iteration, while Sabrina Carpenter’s French manicure emulated actual film reels. The sheer range of riffs on the “Fashion is Art” dress code meant that this year’s nail roster read more like a summer manicure cheat sheet.
Read more: Met Gala 2026 Red Carpet
For nail appointment inspiration, we’ve compiled the celebrity Met Gala manicures we loved the most. From pearlescent nails to dramatic reds, glittering appliqués and everything in between, consider this our ode to creative nail design at this year’s celebration of fashion and art.
Nicole Kidman
If you prefer taupe-toned beige colours, Nicole Kidman’s Met Gala manicure is spot on. A stark contrast against the vibrant red of her feather cuffs, Kidman’s nail colour leaned more towards the sandy, cool-toned beige also picked by Kendall Jenner and Margot Robbie.
Ayo Edebiri
For both Ayo Edebiri and Sarah Pidgeon, shimmering nails were exactly what the night called for. Pidgeon chose a delicate, pearlescent colour that glimmered under the light of the camera flashes. Edebiri’s (a personal favourite) used a metallic overlay to create a glazed, frosted effect.
Cara Delevingne
Vampy, gothic and in contrast to her black gown, Delevingne chose a dark purple-red for her 2026 Met Gala appearance. The extra-long length gives the wonderfully dramatic Morticia Addams effect.
Ashley Graham
Rather than wear just a metallic manicure, Graham chose to dip each of her fingers in silver paint, too. We’re not saying you need to do the same, but there’s something to be said for upping the ante. A high-shine silver or gold manicure is just as worthy of your time, too –dipped digits or not.
Anne Hathaway
To complement her hand-painted, one-of-a-kind Michael Kors dress, Hathaway added a secret detail to her minimalist manicure – a diagonal, white ribbon painted across a skin-coloured base. The dress, which was inspired by the John Keats poem, Ode on a Grecian Urn, contained intricate, monochromatic details that Hathaway echoed in her manicure, proving once again that sometimes less is more.
Lisa
Appliqués are always a good idea – from rhinestones to gemstones, 3D shapes, rings, pearls, studs and more. Blackpink’s Lisa took this idea and ran with it, adorning her long, almond-shaped nails with blue and silver rhinestones that extended up her fingers and along the back of her palm, too.
Rebecca Hall
Reminiscent of the trending “Old Money” manicure, a neutral manicure goes with every outfit and every occasion – as evidenced by the number of them spotted on the Met Gala red carpet this year. The shape should be kept short, but can be square or rounded depending on your preference. The key is picking a shade close to your natural nail bed, allowing the polish to almost disappear. It’s your nails at their absolute best.
