Surprise… or not: The bob haircut is alive and well at the 2026 Met Gala. Actually, any haircut above the clavicle seems to be the choice amongst A-listers this year. In a sea of long, silky strands and sculptural wigs, short hair might seem kinda understated. But the celebrities pulled it out this year, opting for fresh takes on short haircuts on every texture and hair type. From the bixie and trixie cut (first popularized on Zendaya earlier this year) to blunt chin-length cuts to slicked-down styles, they’re all proof that short hair is not only still the biggest haircut trend of 2026, but chic enough for the Met Gala.
In case you missed it, this year’s theme, “costume art,” lends itself well to the “fashion is art” dress code, inspiring guests to explore art in a wearable lens via what they drape their bodies with. And in my humble opinion, as a beauty editor, that also extends to how you do your hair.
1. Sarah Paulson’s Side-Swept Bixie
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2. Keke Palmer’s Red Velvet Pixie
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3. Emma Chamberlain’s Spiky Pixie
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4. Carey Mulligan’s Voluminous Bob
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5. Sabrina Carpenter’s Faux Bob
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6. Camila Mendes Flippy Bob
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7. Janelle Monáe’s Temple-Length Trixie
Dimitrios Kambouris//Getty Images
8. Gracie Abrams’s French Girl Pixie
Dimitrios Kambouris//Getty Images
9. Kris Jenner’s Bob With Bangs
Dimitrios Kambouris//Getty Images
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing stories on hair, makeup, and nails.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.