The steps of Manhattan’s Metropolitan Museum of Art aren’t the only red carpet you should be paying attention to for tonight’s Met Gala. Over the years, the entrances to the hotels where the stars get ready have become the place to get a first look at the celebrities in their headlining-making ensembles. And with a theme like Costume Art, we can expect this year’s fashion to be as avant-garde and show-stopping as ever.

The historic hotels of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where the Met is located, have long endeared themselves to the upper crust of New York. With gilded suites that often offer views of Central Park, these institutions are popular year round, but they become paparazzi magnets on the first Monday of May.

Here are just a few places you can expect the stars to be getting ready ahead of the 2026 Met Gala.

The Carlyle

Hailey Bieber exiting the Carlyle Hotel to attend the 2025 Met Gala.

Built in 1930, The Carlyle has long played host to Hollywood stars and other VIPs. Named after the Scottish author Thomas Carlyle, the property is also home to the iconic Bemelman’s Bar and Cafe Carlyle.

The 35-story Art Deco property features almost 200 rooms, including a few privately owned residences. (The penthouse that Jackie and John F. Kennedy famously frequented during visits to the city just sold to media mogul Barry Diller for $11 million in March.) It’s a favorite of the British royal family, and Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan have all stayed there. Over the last few years, the historic hotel has also become the favored temporary home for stars like Hailey Bieber, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Nick and Priyanka Jonas, and more to get ready at on the first Monday in May.

The Lowell

Located just between Madison and Park Avenue, the Lowell is known for a more low-key feel. It was established in 1927, and reopened in 2017 after closing for a $25 million renovation. Its rooms often include working wood-burning fireplaces and full kitchenettes, giving the space a distinctly cozy, apartment feel that brings guests like Stella McCartney, Madelyn Cline, Pamela Anderson, and Aubrey Plaza flocking to its 74 different suites.

The Mark

Cynthia Erivo on the red carpet of the Mark Hotel ahead of the 2025 Met Gala.

The Mark has been a destination in its own right since it first opened its doors in 1927. Designed by the famous architects Schwartz & Gross, the Renaissance Revival property mirrors all the opulence and glamour of the Met Gala, making it the ideal spot for a star-studded list of regulars that includes Sabrina Carpenter, Nicki Minaj, Cynthia Erivo, and Charli XCX. The hotel even custom-makes their own red carpet for the night, which is positioned just outside the hotel’s signature black-and-white striped lobby by a team of 10 people. When guests return from the night of revelry, they can take advantage of the Mark’s Jean-Georges Vongerichten-crafted cuisine, which includes the hotel’s much-instagrammed Haute Dog Cart.

The Pierre

Lady Gaga with designer Brandon Maxwell at the 2019 Met Gala.

The stately gilded awning of the Pierre Hotel has welcomed guests since 1930. A New York landmark on par with the Plaza, the Pierre is known for its exemplary “white glove” service. The property solidified itself in the canon of the Met Gala in 2019, when Gala co-chair Lady Gaga selected the hotel as her get-ready spot. For the Camp theme, the pop star and designer Brandon Maxwell coordinated a memorably voluminous bright pink ensemble that morphed into four different looks—each revealed as Gaga ascended the Met steps.

Zendaya leaving The Surrey Hotel ahead of the 2025 Met Gala.

The Surrey

This historic building has been a mainstay on east 76th Street since 1926, but it only just recently became more widely known by its current name: The Surrey Hotel. Formerly a Relais & Châteaux hotel, the property was acquired by the Reuben Brothers and reopened as The Surrey in 2024. ELLE Decor A-Lister Martin Brudnizki headed up the redesign, meshing the buildings Art Deco roots with a polished contemporary refinement. Despite only reopening a few years ago, the Surrey has quickly become a favored spot for stars like Zendaya, Angela Bassett, Cardi B, and more. This year, the Surrey Spa is even offering a “Haute Edit” “couture-level treatment” exclusively for Met Gala guests that’s blended into their pre-event preparation.