The Sydney Morning Herald·Australia·Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 06:10 AM UTC

Taylor Swift to Jacob Elordi: Best looks from ‘Met Gala of the West Coast’

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Nell Geraets

The Academy Museum Gala has once again delivered one of the most glamorous and star-studded red carpets of the year.

Known as the “Met Gala of the West Coast”, the event raises funds for Los Angeles’ Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Though not quite as prominent as the Grammys or Oscars’ red carpet, the gala has quietly developed a reputation for being refined, elegant and experimental while still packing a major A-list punch.

Jacob Elordi, Taylor Swift, Teyana Taylor and a slew of other A-list stars attended the 2026 Academy Museum Gala.FilmMagic

This year’s event, which marked the sixth to date, welcomed a slew of famous faces, including A$AP Rocky, Kendall Jenner, Pamela Anderson and Andrew Garfield. Australia was well represented with Jacob Elordi, Kylie Minogue and emerging star Joseph Zada.

Though much of what happened inside the museum’s hallowed halls remained a mystery, this year’s gala honoured Mad Max: Fury Road actor Charlize Theron, Sing Sing performer Colman Domingo and renowned director John Carpenter.

It included a closing performance from pop juggernaut Taylor Swift in one of her first major live performances since the end of the Eras Tour in 2024.

In unfortunate news for those hoping to catch a glimpse of the performance, the gala is famously not televised to the public.

This has arguably worked in its favour, generating major intrigue around the mysterious goings-on inside the event, and offering privacy for the celebrities in attendance – a rarity these days.

Here are the looks from some of the night’s biggest stars.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift channels Cinderella in baby blue Dior.FilmMagic

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo is pure class in Valentino.Getty Images

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner champions the polka dot at the 6th Academy Museum Gala.FilmMagic

Teyana Taylor

It’s corset galore for Teyana Taylor at the Academy Museum Gala.FilmMagic

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi channelled James Bond in his Bottega Veneta suit… A clue, perhaps?FilmMagic

Hailey Bieber

Baby pink was the colour of the day for Hailey Bieber and her Chanel dress.Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter stuns in a cut-out blue dress.Getty Images

Connor Storrie

Connor Storrie could stop traffic in his Saint Laurent ensemble.Getty Images

Rosé

Rosé wore a sheer custom black dress by Saint Laurent at the Academy Museum Gala.Getty Images

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian hops on-board the old Hollywood glamour train.Getty Images

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield rocks long locks at the Academy Museum Gala.Getty Images

Kylie Minogue

Australia’s queen of pop Kylie Minogue at the Academy Museum Gala.FilmMagic

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson glows in a custom Armani Privé gown.FilmMagic

A$AP Rocky

A$AP Rocky looks as dapper as ever in Chanel.Getty Images

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron in Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann.FilmMagic

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson looks radiant in her make-up-free look at the Academy Museum Gala.Getty Images

Alexander Skarsgård

You can always count on Alexander Skarsgård to strike a look on a red carpet.Getty Images

Mikey Madison

Mikey Madison pops among a sea of otherwise relatively muted colours.Getty Images

Joseph Zada

Rising Sydney star Joseph Zada attends the Academy Museum Gala for the first time.Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski

Emily Ratajkowski stuns in a form-fitting red gown.Getty Images

Inde Navarrette

We’re obsessed with Obsession star Inde Navarrette’s polka-dotted dress.FilmMagic

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried is radiant in a Prada gown at the Academy Museum Gala.Getty Images

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Nell Geraets is a Culture reporter at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.

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