Go Inside The Mark Hotel's Star-Studded Lobby Before and After the 2026 Met Gala! (Exclusive)
Go Inside The Mark Hotel's Star-Studded Lobby Before and After the 2026 Met Gala! (Exclusive)
Skyler CarusoTue, May 5, 2026 at 7:43 PM UTC
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Chase Infiniti and Odessa A'Zion at The Mark Hotel after The Met Gala 2026.Credit: Todd Williamson
The Mark Hotel was the place to be!
The lobby was abuzz in the five-star hotel located on New York City’s Upper East Side in the hours before and after The Met Gala, and PEOPLE was inside to capture all the exclusive action for fashion's biggest night.
Over the years, The Mark Hotel and its coveted suites (which historically book up once the Met Gala's theme is revealed in November) has become synonymous with the fashion fête, serving as a go-to destination for A-listers to get ready before hitting the iconic steps at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This year, it's striking lobby — and its iconic black-and-white stripe floors — served as a rich backdrop for A-listers and their glam teams to put the finishing touches on their elaborate outfits and perfect their hair and makeup before striking a pose on the red carpet.
Anna Wintour, longtime Vogue Editor-in-Chief and lead chairperson of The Met Gala, was among the many notable names to depart from The Mark. She and her family were the first to leave, telling PEOPLE exclusively that she was excited for "everything" about this year's event.
Co-chair Venus Williams and her husband, Andrea Preti, followed soon after, along with the likes of Paul Anthony Kelly, Hudson Williams, Chase Infiniti, Joe Burrow, Cardi B, Colman Domingo, Alysa Liu and more famous faces dressed to impress for the red carpet.
PEOPLE was inside to catch their first looks, in addition to their thoughts on this year's Met Gala upon their return to The Mark lobby. Alex Consani and Paloma Elesser confirmed that Stevie Nicks and Sabrina Carpenter performed, while Indian billionaire Sudha Reddy dove into boxes of KFC.
Now, scroll on for an inside look at the starry scene for fashion's Super Bowl!
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Sarah Paulson and Grace Gummer
Sarah Paulson and Grace Gummer at The Mark Hotel.Credit: Todd Williamson
Sarah Paulson and Grace Gummer returned to The Mark around 11:30 p.m., holding hands and beaming after their night out at The Met. Paulson wore a tulle gown with white opera gloves and a dollar bill over her eyes, while Gummer told PEOPLE exclusively that her Gabriela Hearst-designed dress was inspired by "past, present and future."
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Alex Consani
Alex Consani at The Mark Hotel Met Gala 2026.Credit: Todd Williamson
Alex Consani returned from The Met Gala in her transparent corset top and a long, feathery skirt. In fact, upon her return to The Mark around 11:15 p.m., she and Paloma Elesser confirmed that Stevie Nicks and Sabrina Carpenter performed at the sartorial soirée, and then broke out into a flashmob of singing Stevie songs in hotel lobby.
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Ejae
Ejae at The Mark Hotel Met Gala 2026.Credit: Todd Williamson
Kpop Demon Hunters' EJAE sparkled in a head-to-toe silver crystal gown designed by Swarovski before making her Met Gala debut.
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Sombr
Sombr at The Mark Hotel Met Gala 2026.Credit: Todd Williamson
Sombr had an afterparty outfit change after The Met Gala, where he dripped in silver from his shoulder to his pants. Very fittingly, he switched into a getup a bit more rock and roll, leather and sheer included, for the big night out.
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Karlie Kloss
Karli Kloss.Credit: Todd Williamson
Karlie Kloss stunned in a white ball gown, telling PEOPLE exclusively the inspiration behind the gown in the lobby before heading to the sartorial steps: "Jonathan Anderson's first collection for Dior for his Couture collection."
On Instagram, she wrote: "The last time I wore a white @dior couture dress was for my wedding day… and now for my 17th Met 🥹 Thank you Jonathan ♥️."
Kloss told PEOPLE that she was "so excited for this theme," adding, "It's going to be so beautiful."
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Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts.Credit: Todd Williamson
Naomi Watts looked like a garden goddess! She wore Dior with 3D floral appliqués and coordinating headpiece, in addition to jewelry by Briony Raymond and Dior Haute Joaillerie.
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Maluma
Maluma.Credit: Todd Williamson
Maluma was all smiles after The Met Gala, returning to The Mark just as sharp as when he left!
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Gustav Witzoe
Gustav Witzoe.Credit: Todd Williamson
Gustav Witzoe rocked a stylish, skeletal set, effortlessly aligning with the dress code, "Fashion is Art."
The dress code was intentionally open-ended, encouraging guests to treat clothing as a form of artistic expression and use the body as a canvas. Tied to the exhibition's focus on the “dressed body,” the theme invites designers and celebrities to explore how fashion interacts with form, rather than simply recreating famous artworks.
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Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk.Credit: Todd Williamson
At 5:40 p.m., Irina Shayk made her way down the spiral staircase in The Mark lobby with her dog, “Poochie,” in her arms. When she came back to The Mark after The Met, she told PEOPLE what happened to the dog, who was no longer with her: "He’s coming to the afterparty!"
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Tyla
Tyla.Credit: Todd Williamson
Tyla made sure to stop by The Mark x KFC kart upon her return from The Met Gala, indulging in some savory goodies while slaying in her daringly bare look, which she said was inspired by peacocks.
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Chase Infiniti and Odessa A'Zion
Chase Infiniti and Odessa A'Zion.Credit: Todd Williamson
Chase Infiniti, who stunned in a multi-colored Thom Browne gown, and Odessa A'zion, who wowed in a a bustier bodysuit, is the friendship we didn't know we needed!
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Tate McRae and Ludovic De Sernin
Tate McRae and Ludovic De Sernin.Credit: Todd Williamson
Tate McRae was the golden girl of the night! Ahead of her departure, she was surrounded by her glam team for final touches — hairspray and all! — in the lobby of The Mark, before walking the red carpet and striking poses for the photographers.
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Cardi B
Cardi B.Credit: Todd Williamson
Cardi B knows how to make a statement! This year, she opted for a custom Marc Jacobs gown with cartoonishly exaggerated body parts inspired by the art of Hans Bellmer.
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Hudson Williams and Daisy Edgar-Jones
Hudson Williams and Daisy Edgar-Jones.Credit: Todd Williamson
Chivalry isn't dead! Hudson Williams returned to The Mark with Daisy Edgar-Jones, and even carried the train that flowed behind her as they made their way into the elevator together.
(In case you missed it, Hudson went full glam in nothing but a hotel bath towel in the hotel lobby before heading out!)
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Alysa Liu
Alysa Liu.Credit: Todd Williamson
Alysa Liu made her Met Gala debut, and slayed it, wearing Louis Vuitton with matching heels and a dark red pendant necklace styled with her signature "halo" hair.
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Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner
Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner.Credit: Todd Williamson
Karlie Kloss changed into a sexy, two-piece set for the after parties, hitting the town with her husband, Joshua Kushner.
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Doechii
Doechii.Credit: Todd Williamson
While Doechii departed from The Mark disguised in her maroon Marc Jacobs ensemble, she proudly showed it off upon her return — where she was sure to stop and pose in front of the hotel's pop-up KFC stand.
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Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka.Credit: Todd Williamson
Naomi Osaka was a vision in red for her two-part Met Gala outfit! She dazzled in a crystal-encrusted dress with chic, sheer gloves — but only after switching out of her white ensemble that she paired with an oversized, statement hat.
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Ashley Graham and Justin Ervin
Ashley Graham and Justin Ervin.Credit: Todd Williamson
Ashley Graham was all smiles with her husband, Justin Ervin, ready for part two of the night! Her accessory for the evening was a smile and a bottle of bubbly.
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Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson.Credit: Todd Williamson
Tessa Thompson washed off her dripping blue hand detail that paired with her deep blue dress (in the lobby, she joked with PEOPLE: "I just accidentally dunked it into a thing of paint); opting for a stunning, metallic ensemble for her afterparty look.
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Lisa
Lisa.Credit: Todd Williamson
Lisa switched up her style for a midriff-baring set in cream, wowing in a fur-lined blazer and matching trousers. She left the jacket unbuttoned, revealing her tiny bralette for a sexy afterparty N.Y.C. number.
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Sombr
Sombr.Credit: Todd Williamson
Sombr knows how to work a crowd — and did so upon his arrival back to the Mark Hotel, where he traded his sparkling set for a leather getup that electrified the style scene in the city.
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Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo.Credit: Todd Williamson
Nothing stops Colman Domingo from having a fun night out, despite the actor mouthing to PEOPLE in the lobby of The Mark that he had no voice and couldn't talk.
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Joe Alwyn and Dree Hemingway
Joe Alwyn and Dree Hemingway.Credit: Todd Williamson
Joe Alwyn and Dree Hemingway stunned in gold getups upon their return to The Mark after The Met Gala.
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Jisoo
Jisoo.Credit: Todd Williamson
Jisoo made her Met Gala debut in sparkling pink Dior dress with a three-tiered peplum and tulle embellishments, in addition to Cartier jewelry. She was all smiles when she returned to The Mark after the big night.
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Grace Gummer
Grace Gummer.Credit: Todd Williamson
Grace Gummer slipped into a vibrant, hooded outfit for The Met afters.
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Lisa
Lisa.Credit: Todd Williamson
Lisa returned to The Mark in her Robert Wun gown with Swarovski crystals and Bulgari sapphires and diamonds, but ditched the extra arms that were attatched to her innovative look.
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Yu Chi Lyra Kuo
Yu Chi Lyra Kuo.Credit: Todd Williamson
Yu Chi Lyra Kuo rocked an elaborate, white gown that was a beautiful contrast against The Mark's stunning striped floor.
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Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka.Credit: Todd Williamson
Naomi Osaka is fashion! She wore a look that incorporated various fabrics for the afters, including feathers and lace (and a fashion-forward mask that covered her face!).
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Irina Shayk
Irina Shayk.Credit: Todd Williamson
Irina Shayk reunited with her pooch for a fun night out. "He’s missing mama," she told PEOPLE exclusively in the lobby after she returned to the hotel to change for the post-Met happenings.
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Jisoo
Jisoo.Credit: Todd Williamson
Jisoo opted for an airy, all white dress for part two of her evening — angelic!
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