Oscars 2026 red carpet: the best dressed stars of the night

Before the statuettes were handed out and the speeches were made, Hollywood’s biggest night had another spectacle to offer. The red carpet at the 98th Academy Awards was, as ever, a study in ambition — feathers and fishtails, ivory silk and electric blue, the quietly confident and the gloriously theatrical. This year’s carpet leaned into individuality over trend, with guests arriving in looks that felt genuinely personal rather than prescribed. These were the ones that stopped the room.

Jessie Buckley in Chanel

The night’s ultimate winner, both on screen and off. The newly crowned Best Actress arrived in a vivid red and pink colour-blocked Chanel gown that was as bold as her performance in Hamnet. Her stylist cited Grace Kelly as the reference point, and the result was exactly that — timeless with an edge.

Nicole Kidman in Chanel

Hollywood royalty in every sense. Kidman’s feather-trimmed Chanel number, with its contrast sequin detail at the bust, was the kind of look that makes a red carpet feel genuinely cinematic. Controlled glamour at its best.

Teyana Taylor in Chanel

If there was a most committed fashion moment of the evening, Taylor claimed it. Her custom black-and-white Chanel gown — complete with a perfectly placed feathery train — was dramatic without being theatrical. She has rarely, if ever, missed on a red carpet, and this was no exception.

Demi Moore in Gucci

Moore arrived in a feathered Gucci creation paired with extravagant Boucheron jewels, and the effect was precisely calibrated. Bold without being overpowering, it was the work of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing — and has for decades.

Li Jun Li in Gaurav Gupta

One of the carpet’s most sculptural moments belonged to Sinners actress Li Jun Li, who arrived in a corseted Gaurav Gupta gown with a ribbon-like train that trailed behind her as she walked. Architectural and siren-like in equal measure, it was a look that demanded a second glance.

Ji-young Yoo in Carolina Herrera

The voice of Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters made a memorable in-person debut on the Oscars carpet in a multitone blue Carolina Herrera ball gown that was as joyful as it was striking. A newcomer arrival that will not be forgotten quickly.

Elle Fanning in Givenchy

First-time Oscar nominee Elle Fanning went full fairytale in a white Givenchy by Sarah Burton gown, its frothy prom-like skirt giving the look an unabashedly romantic quality. On a carpet that skewed dark and dramatic, the effect was genuinely refreshing.

Anne Hathaway in Valentino

The Devil Wears Prada comparisons wrote themselves. Hathaway arrived in a strapless floral Valentino that played directly into the spring season — and wore it with the kind of knowing confidence that made it feel like a statement rather than a coincidence.

Rose Byrne in Dior

A strapless black fishtail gown with floral embroidery at the bodice and hem — Byrne was among the first to walk the carpet and immediately set a standard that many spent the rest of the evening trying to match.

Chase Infiniti in Louis Vuitton

One of the carpet’s most joyful arrivals. The lavender Louis Vuitton gown, with its form-fitting bodice and cascading ruffled skirt, was fresh and precise in equal measure. Infiniti continues to be one of the most watchable dressers on any red carpet she attends.

Zoe Saldana in Saint Laurent

Saldana leaned into the lingerie trend with a coquettish Saint Laurent gown offset by a Cartier diamond necklace. It was a daring choice that landed precisely because she wore it with such ease.

Wunmi Mosaku in Louis Vuitton

A standout moment on a carpet full of them. Mosaku arrived in a sparkling green hand-embroidered Louis Vuitton gown, her presence entirely commanding. It was a look with genuine personality behind it.

And the men held their own

Michael B. Jordan arrived in a sharp Louis Vuitton suit — fitting, given that he left with Best Actor. Timothée Chalamet went tonal in an ivory Givenchy ensemble.

 

Paul Mescal in Celine and Gracie Abrams in Chanel offered a masterclass in complementary couples dressing.

Jack O’Connell, in a nod to his Sinners role, arrived sporting prosthetic vampire teeth before revealing his natural smile for the cameras — the most committed accessory of the evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALSO SEE:

Oscars 2026: Sinners and One Battle After Another dominate a night of historic firsts

Featured Image: Getty