Venus Williams' 2026 Met Gala Glam Is All About That Smokey Eye

It’s the first Monday in May, and you know what that means: The 2026 Met Gala is upon us. This year’s theme is “Costume Art,” and the dress code is “Fashion Is Art,” which spotlights the body as both the subject and the canvas. In short? There’s plenty of room to play, so expect celebrities to go bold, sculptural, and entirely over-the-top. One of the most anticipated looks of the night is from none other than Venus Williams, who is one of the co-chairs for tonight’s glamorous fundraiser.

​Williams has long been an avid collector, curator, and supporter of the arts, so fans have been waiting for her interpretation of tonight’s theme with bated breath since her role was announced in December. As expected, the tennis superstar aced the assignment, wearing a custom Swarovski gown for the event. Still, my eyes were on her glam.

Created with Charlotte Tilbury products, makeup artist Karina Milan opted for a gorgeous soft glam featuring nude lips, a smokey eye, and fresh, glowing skin. "The dress was the inspiration—the moment I saw those Swarovski crystals, I knew the makeup had to match the magic," Milan exclusively tells me. "On big nights like this, everything needs to feel cohesive, elevated, and unapologetically glamorous. While the theme was Costume Art, Venus wanted to stay firmly in chic territory, so I took a clean, classic smoky and elevated it with touches of diamond to catch the light. Effortless glamour, with a little sparkle to keep things interesting."

Williams's hair was pulled into a high, braided bun for the festivities, with crystals placed in the middle of what appears to be floral designs throughout the style. A neutral, inverted French manicure with a flash of chrome at the nail beds, courtesy of Kiss Nails, completed the look.

There are still quite a few celebrities who will make their way onto the red carpet for tonight's festivities, but so far, William's is one of my favorite looks of the evening. Keep up with the rest of tonight's 2026 Met Gala beauty coverage on Marie Claire's live beauty blog, as well as our fashion live blog, and shop a few products that will give you a similar look to Williams's glam ahead.

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