Sam Smith may be walking down the aisle sooner rather than later!
The singer-songwriter, who identifies as non-binary and uses “they/them” pronouns, attended the annual Met Gala with their longtime beau, fashion designer Christian Cowan.
The duo put on a touching display of love and unity on the red carpet, with sources claiming Sam Smith and Christian Cowan’s PDA stemmed from a different reason.
On Monday, May 4, the “Unholy” hitmaker and their fashion designer partner donned matching all-black ensembles for the 2026 Met Gala. Hours before the event, sources reportedly overheard them talking about their engagement at the Mark Hotel.
“From what I understand, it was a private engagement,” one hotel lobby source told Page Six. They claimed the couple “are over the moon, and from what I hear, so in love!” Another insider echoed similar sentiments about Smith and Cowan, confirming the engagement news.
Smith seemingly hinted at their engagement to Cowan on Instagram, sharing a carousel of images detailing their Met Gala ensembles. One picture was a solo shot of the fashion designer, with a massive square yellow diamond on his left ring finger.
The Fashion Designer Chose The Singer’s Outfit For A Special Reason
Besides the shots of Smith and Cowan in their stunning Met Gala outfits, there was a picture featuring a statement from Cowan about his reasoning behind Smith’s ensemble. The designer explained that he has always loved Erté’s costume art and visionary illustrations.
Cowan’s admiration for Erté motivated him to design Smith’s outfit with “the infamous 1920’s opulence and craft.” The embellished coat featured “255,000 individual crystals and beads” and “2,000 hours of artisanal hand sewing.” Cowan added:
“This look is a love letter to the king of fashion illustration, and to my love, Sam.”
One Celebrity Seemingly Confirms The Engagement News
The comment section of the Instagram update was filled with praise for Cowan’s design skills and Smith for rocking the costume couture look effortlessly. Among the praise was a single comment that stood out as it seemingly focused on the massive square yellow diamond on Cowan’s finger.
Jordan Roth, the creative director of ATG Entertainment, wrote, “Divine!! And congratulations again!” Her words appeared to hint at the reported engagement between Smith and Cowan. Roth wasn’t the only one who noticed, as a separate post about the duo’s Met Gala look caught a fan’s attention.
“Erm…. Christians ring,” the fan pointed out. On the other hand, more IG users were more intrigued by Smith and Cowan’s outfits, with someone dubbing both of their ensembles “Exquisite.” Another agreed, applauding Cowan for his amazing design skills.
Sam Smith And Christian Cowan’s Relationship Timeline
Nearly four years ago, Smith and Cowan first sparked dating rumors in December 2022. They had posed together for a picture with then-President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at the White House.
A month later, Smith and Cowan visited a tattoo studio in Sydney, Australia, and were later spotted on a walk in New York City. There were more couple sightings in 2023, including a viral picture of Smith kissing Cowan’s on the head. They eventually made their red carpet appearance at the 2024 Met Gala.
That same year, Cowan confirmed in an interview that he and Smith had been dating for about two years. PEOPLE reported that their relationship grew even stronger with Smith rocking many of Cowan’s designs at events, including their “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” music video.
The Five-Time Grammy Winner Once Felt Like They Were ‘Behind’ In Love
Before meeting Cowan, Smith once confessed that they had little experience with love. In a 2017 interview with Billboard, the singer-songwriter explained that they felt “a bit behind” in their relationships. “I wish I’d been in a long-term relationship by this age,” Smith lamented.
They shared that they had moved to London when they were 19 after growing up in an area where they were the only gay guy in school and in their village. Smith believed they would have been more “emotionally richer” if they had a long-term relationship sooner, but it wasn’t easy for them growing up.
“It’s hardly going to be any easier for me now, is it?” Smith added. Their words came amid reports of their speculated romance with “13 Reasons Why” actor Brandon Flynn. They have also been romantically linked to model Jonathan Zeizel, Olympic Swimmer Tom Daley, and more, per Poptales.
