The Biggest Trends From the 2026 Oscars Red Carpet
Feathers! Sculptural silhouettes! Subtle dress code deviations!
The awards season grand finale is finally here—which means red carpet trends are crystallizing as we speak. Famously, the risks stars take at televised events have a trickle-down effect (peekaboo bras; rosette mania; hot pink Barbie dressing), and at the Oscars, that sartorial tone-setting is at its strongest.
As Etalk correspondent Lauren Chan told FASHION ahead of this year’s ceremony, the Academy Awards have historically been home to a rather demure dressing vibe. Still, unexpected trends always emerge, and this year is no different. Without further ado, the biggest trends to watch from the 2026 Oscars red carpet.
Red is the new black
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Sorry, Marty Supreme orange. You’ve been usurped by a decidedly more romantic hue. Sentimental Value star Renate Reinsve, who has been dominating best-dressed lists for months, made the case for a simple bold hue in a strapless Louis Vuitton dress with an exaggerated slit. Fellow 2026 Oscars nominee Jessie Buckley also opted for the commanding colour in a custom Chanel gown, with a complementary blush-coloured skirt.
Most opulent was Sinners star Li Jun Li, who stepped out in a Spring 2026 couture Gaurav Gupta gown, with decadent draping and a sculptural neckline. Even Kylie Jenner, who has been coordinating with boyfriend Timothée Chalamet all awards season, deviated from her matching norm and donned a crimson Schiaparelli number to offset Chalamet’s all-white tux.
Avian accents
Photo via Getty
How does one best display their talent for on-screen fantasy and fashion? Feathers, of course. Look no further than Teyana Taylor, nominated for her role in One Battle After Another, who stunned in a custom Chanel gown adorned in intricate black and white feathers. Nicole Kidman, too, stepped out in a strapless gown with pristine plumage below the waist. Demi Moore went in a distinctly darker direction, channelling a moody, wildlife effect in a black-and-green gradient dress with feathers blooming out of her bustier.
Goodbye to the tie
Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage
Gone but not forgotten. For some menswear stars on the 2026 Oscars red carpet, the standard necktie has been swapped for something a bit more unexpected. Joe Alwyn and Paul Mescal went for the ultra-slouchy, loosely slung bow tie. Sinners star Michael B. Jordan looked dapper in a button-up Nehru jacket. Pedro Pascal ditched the blazer and tie entirely for a tucked-in white shirt and ginormous brooch. (But kept his signature teeny glasses, of course.)
The Gilded Age
Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images
A select few took the evening’s theme quite literally, with gold-accented outfits that referenced the statuettes themselves. Law Roach wore a long jacket with Baroque detailing, reminiscent of old-world grandeur. He accessorizes with a Chanel purse and Christian Louboutin heeled boots. Audrey Nuna—star of K-Pop Demon Hunters—glistened in an asymmetrical ballgown with dripping gold sequin detailing and a regal collar. Even her nails—affixed with bulbous appliqués—were Hollywood-level glam. Ejae went all-in with a glistening gown reminiscent of fluid chainmail, or a coveted gold figurine. Talk about dressing for the job.
Shape shifting
Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage
Forget a statement necklace. An otherworldly neckline can reinvent a look. Such was the case for Kirsten Dunst’s tiered Celine number, which featured a sharp décolletage design in lieu of a classic V-cut. For a more dramatic example, Regina Hall offered a lesson in a well-executed off-the-shoulder slant. Taking the trend to new textural heights, Sentimental Value star Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas revamped a classic column gown with fold-over fabric florals.
Here comes the bride
Photo by Savion Washington/Penske Media via Getty Images
There’s something matrimonial going on at the 2026 Oscars red carpet. Mia Goth, who stars in Frankenstein as The Creature’s doomed love interest, leaned into the ethereal romance of her role in a gauzy cream frock embroidered with lace flowers, courtesy of Dior. Bugonia star Emma Stone also went all-white in a timeless Louis Vuitton dress. Elle Fanning served princess-gown glamour in an embroidered bodice and frothy skirt, while Gwyneth Paltrow offered ’90s minimalism in a pristine strapless satin number with Tiffany & Co. jewels. (Her Marty Supreme co-star, Chalamet, also got the memo in an all-white slouchy suit.)
But don’t mistake bridal-esque fashion as one note. Hamnet director Chloe Zhao gave it a subversive twist in an all-black tiered dress and a gothic veil. We say I do to it all.
Natalie Michie is the Fashion & Features Editor at FASHION Magazine. With a pop culture obsession, she is passionate about exploring the relationship between fashion, internet trends and social issues. She has written for Elle Canada, CBC, Chatelaine and Toronto Life. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and over-analyzing movies on TikTok.
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