The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards brought television’s biggest stars to Los Angeles on September 14, and the fashion was almost as closely watched as the awards themselves.
Held at the Peacock Theater, the ceremony featured a blue carpet rather than the traditional red, with stars arriving in everything from crystal-covered gowns and pastel silks to sharply tailored suits. Among the night’s most memorable looks were Zendaya’s custom Prada, Nicole Kidman’s white Chanel gown, and Selena Gomez’s gold Louis Vuitton ensemble.
The overall mood leaned toward classic Hollywood glamour, but there was plenty of room for modern silhouettes, unusual textures, and playful choices. Here are some of the standout looks from the 2026 Emmys.
Zendaya in Prada
Zendaya once again made a strong case for the statement gown.
The actor arrived in a custom Prada dress featuring transparent gray tulle and extensive crystal embellishment. Mikimoto jewelry added another layer of shine to the otherwise restrained color palette.
The gown was dramatic without relying on bright color, while Zendaya’s new pixie cut looked distinctly different. Her appearance quickly became one of the defining fashion moments of the night.
Nicole Kidman in Chanel
Nicole Kidman chose a very different approach, relying on texture and construction rather than heavy sparkle.
Her custom white Chanel gown was designed by Mathieu Blazy and featured a wool crepe bustier silhouette decorated with 46 individual flowers made from layered silk crepe, silk organza and raffia. She completed the look with Chanel fine jewelry.
The result was clean, sculptural and distinctly romantic, with the floral detailing providing most of the visual drama.
Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton
Selena Gomez brought one of the night’s most overtly glamorous looks in a gold Louis Vuitton gown.
The metallic design had an armor-like quality, while Tiffany & Co. jewelry, including pieces from the Bird on a Rock collection, completed the ensemble.
The choice also worked particularly well against the blue carpet, giving Gomez an unmistakable awards-night presence.
Elle Fanning in Ralph Lauren
Elle Fanning kept her silhouette elegant while letting color do the work.
She wore a custom Ralph Lauren Collection evening gown made from embroidered silk chiffon in a rich jade shade. Cartier jewelry provided the finishing detail.
Vogue also singled out Fanning among the night’s standout dressers, describing the look as a strong example of how a simple silhouette can stand out through color and execution.
Sarah Pidgeon in Chanel
Sarah Pidgeon offered one of the evening’s more understated but detailed looks.
The Love Story actor wore a lavender Chanel liquid-silk gown with a draped cowl neckline. The neckline was decorated with intertwined gold and silver chains, crystals, gold beads and white and lilac pearls.
The look also fit one of the night’s broader trends: soft, fluid gowns that referenced earlier eras of Hollywood fashion without looking like costumes.
Florence Pugh in Vivienne Westwood
Florence Pugh leaned into romantic detailing with a custom Vivienne Westwood gown.
The lilac design combined a corseted construction with blush sequins, a tulle overlay, and a shoulder drape designed to create a wing-like effect. She paired the look with Bvlgari jewelry.
It was one of the more theatrical gowns on the carpet, but the muted lilac palette kept it from becoming overly heavy.
Mariska Hargitay in Monse
The evening’s host made her own fashion statement in red.
Mariska Hargitay wore a fire-engine red Monse gown covered in sequins, with fringe extending into an asymmetric train. The look paid tribute to her mother, actor Jayne Mansfield, and Mansfield’s famous red dress from the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help It.
Hargitay’s role as host gave her the opportunity to make several wardrobe changes during the ceremony, but her red carpet appearance was one of the most recognizable looks of the night.
Joy Sunday in Dior
Joy Sunday marked her first Emmy nomination with a custom Dior gown designed by Jonathan Anderson.
The white dress drew heavily from 1920s fashion, with a loose flapper-inspired shape, Art Deco-style beading, and a drop waist leading into a decorated skirt.
It was another example of the vintage influence visible throughout the evening.
Carey Mulligan in The Row
Carey Mulligan took a quieter approach in a strapless royal-blue gown from The Row.
The dress featured origami-inspired gathering at the back and white floral embroidery. Its restrained design stood apart from the night’s more heavily embellished gowns.
The look demonstrated one of the strongest themes of the carpet: simplicity could be just as effective as spectacle when the cut and details were right.
Colman Domingo in Valentino
Colman Domingo was among the night’s strongest menswear standouts.
He wore a custom Valentino ensemble built around a sunset-orange mandarin-collar jacket, a coral shirt and tailored white trousers. A fuchsia sash and diamond brooch added contrast, while Boucheron jewelry and an Omega watch completed the look.
The combination moved well beyond conventional black-tie dressing while retaining the polish expected at an awards ceremony.
Ayo Edebiri, Keri Russell and Others Bring Their Own Take
Several other stars also made the night’s fashion conversation.
Ayo Edebiri appeared in Chanel, while Keri Russell wore Khaite. Dakota Fanning chose Carolina Herrera, and Supriya Ganesh wore McQueen in an ice-blue look that Nylon highlighted among its favorites.
Hannah Einbinder also stood out in Calvin Klein Collection, combining black satin with white paneling and a dramatic pendant necklace. Louisa Jacobson opted for Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, bringing sharply defined tailoring to a carpet dominated by gowns.
And then there was Megan Stalter, who took the idea of dressing for the Emmys literally by appearing as a human Emmy statuette, complete with gold body paint and a large atom prop.
What Defined the Emmys 2026 Red Carpet?
Looking across the strongest looks, three themes stood out: fluid silhouettes, carefully controlled color, and a renewed interest in old Hollywood references.
Vogue noted the prevalence of classic silhouettes updated with contemporary details, while InStyle pointed to the influence of 1920s-inspired dressing and flowing, bias-cut gowns.
The new blue carpet also influenced the visual impact of the evening. Pale shades, metallics and jewel tones created strong contrasts against the backdrop, while white, lilac, jade, gold and silver dominated many of the most photographed looks.
There was no single winning formula. Zendaya went maximal with crystals, Kidman relied on intricate floral construction, Fanning used color, and Mulligan demonstrated the strength of restraint.
That range was what made the 2026 Emmys red carpet particularly interesting: the best looks were not necessarily the loudest ones, but the ones with a clear point of view.
So, Who Had the Best Look?
Zendaya, Nicole Kidman, Selena Gomez, Elle Fanning and Sarah Pidgeon all made convincing cases, but in very different ways.
Zendaya’s Prada gown was the night’s most immediately dramatic fashion statement, while Kidman’s Chanel showed how craftsmanship can create impact without relying on sparkle. Gomez delivered classic awards-show glamour, Fanning made a strong case for color, and Pidgeon’s Chanel brought a softer, more romantic sensibility.
Ultimately, the best-dressed choice comes down to taste. But those five looks, along with the work of Pugh, Hargitay, Sunday, Mulligan and Domingo, established the 2026 Emmys as a red carpet with considerably more variety than a simple parade of gowns.
