Sam Smith, the 33-year-old non-binary musician who uses they/them pronouns, is engaged to fashion designer Christian Cowan after dating for more than three years.
The couple shared news of their engagement just before arriving at Monday’s Met Gala. Witnesses at New York City’s Mark Hotel overheard them discussing the proposal.
An eyewitness described it as a private engagement, noting that Smith and Cowan appear over the moon and deeply in love.
Cowan, 32, displayed a large square-cut yellow diamond ring from Cartier on his wedding finger at the hotel. He wore the same ring during their Met Gala appearance. Smith showed no ring on their left hand, which was encased in a sheer black glove.
Met Gala Outfits and Red Carpet Moments
Cowan crafted custom looks for both at the 2026 Met Gala, aligning with the “Fashion Is Art” theme. Smith donned a striking black bejeweled opera coat featuring intricate beading and faux fur trim, paired with a feathered headpiece, sheer gloves, a diamond neckpiece, and chandelier earrings. The outfit weighed 52 pounds.
“This is the heaviest thing I’ve ever worn in my life. It’s a massive workout,” Smith shared with Vogue on the red carpet. “The weight kept me more alert during the event.”
“There is no one who knows my body better than this man,” Smith added, gesturing to Cowan standing nearby. They called themselves lucky to sport a design by their boyfriend.
Cowan revealed Smith had requested a lighter ensemble. “Sam was like, ‘Babe, please make something lighter weight.’ And I didn’t do that,” he told Vogue correspondent Emma Chamberlain. The look drew inspiration from 1920s opulence and honored illustrator Erté.
Cowan complemented Smith in a beaded all-black suit, dress shirt, and tie. The pair held hands while climbing the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s iconic staircase, pausing for photos, and later mingled with celebrities including Madonna and a masked Katy Perry inside.
This marked their third Met Gala together, with Cowan designing their attire each year, following their public debut as a couple in 2024.
Relationship Background
Smith and Cowan started dating in late 2022. They went public at the 2024 Met Gala. Early in their romance, in 2023, split rumors surfaced after a profile on the exclusive dating app Raya featured photos resembling Smith. Sources close to the singer dismissed the claims, confirming the couple remained together and had not used the app.
Smith, who came out as non-binary three years ago after identifying as male for most of their life, expressed in a 2023 interview feeling happier than ever in their skin. Cowan has supported this confidence through custom outfits, countering past body image struggles with designs that celebrate Smith’s form.
