The best red carpet looks at the 2026 Emmys

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards brought television’s biggest stars to Los Angeles for a night of major wins, emotional moments and spectacular fashion.

Held at the Peacock Theatre, this year’s red carpet offered a little bit of everything: glittering gowns, classic Hollywood glamour, bold colour, archival fashion and impeccably tailored suits. Some stars dressed for the cameras, others kept things deliberately understated, while a few turned their arrivals into full-fledged fashion statements.

Below are 15 of the night’s notable arrivals.

Zendaya

Zendaya once again proved why she is one of the most closely watched stars on any Hollywood red carpet. The actor arrived in a custom Prada gown covered in crystals and pearls, with a sheer, floor-length silhouette, plunging neckline and dramatic train.

Mikimoto pearl and diamond jewellery added another layer of glamour to the actor’s look.

Zendaya at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

The biggest surprise, however, was her hair. Zendaya debuted a dramatic pixie cut, giving the otherwise ultra-glamorous look a sharper, modern edge.

Fashion aside, the evening was significant for the actor, who was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the final season of Euphoria, her third Emmy nomination for playing Rue Bennett.

She had won the category in 2020 and 2022.

Nicole Kidman

The actor embraced classic glamour in an off-white Chanel gown featuring sculptural detailing and a delicate floral, feather-like neckline. The clean, statuesque silhouette allowed the craftsmanship of the dress to take centre stage.

Nicole Kidman at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Nicole paired the look with restrained styling and a softly undone updo, proving once again that she could make traditional red-carpet dressing feel contemporary.

The actor also remains one of television’s most recognisable award-season figures, with an extensive Emmy history adding extra significance whenever she steps onto the carpet.

Noah Wyle

Wyle brought sophisticated menswear to the carpet in a Brunello Cucinelli ensemble, swapping the familiar medical scrubs of The Pitt for polished formal wear. The actor finished the look with a Cartier Privé Tank à Guichets watch, adding a polished accessory to the sleek ensemble.

Noah Wyle at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Wyle also had plenty to celebrate, winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for The Pitt. The medical drama also took home Outstanding Drama Series.

The evening marked a major chapter in Wyle’s career, decades after ER established him as one of television’s most recognisable on-screen doctors.

Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan

Fox and his wife made one of the evening’s most touching appearances, returning to the Emmys together for the first time in 13 years.

The couple coordinated their looks in sophisticated black. Fox kept things classic and elegant, while Tracy donned a black gown accented with a striking gold neckpiece.

Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

For Fox, the night was about far more than fashion. He received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his years of advocacy and fundraising for Parkinson’s research through the Michael J Fox Foundation.

The honour added an especially personal note to his return to television’s biggest night.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene brought a more playful edge to the red carpet, appearing as part of the ensemble from Paradise. On the main Emmy carpet, she opted for a fashion-forward look that balanced sparkle with a sleek silhouette.

The actor had an especially memorable awards-season, winning her first Emmy at the Creative Arts Emmys for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Paradise.

Shailene Woodley at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

The actor’s awards-season run marked a new milestone in her career, with credits including Big Little Lies and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney

Ruffalo and Sunrise brought effortless couple style to the red carpet. The actor kept his look refined in formal menswear, allowing Sunrise’s more fashion-driven ensemble to provide the visual impact.

The pair’s appearance was less about coordinated dressing and more about complementary silhouettes — a relaxed approach that felt natural for the longtime couple.

Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Ruffalo, a four-time Emmy winner, remains one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, with television work including I Know This Much Is True, for which he won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia embraced one of the evening’s strongest colour trends: soft violet. The Game of Thrones star wore Prada in a minimalist column gown with a strapless neckline, fitted bodice and dramatic cape-like train.

A bow detail accentuated the high slit, while diamond earrings provided just enough sparkle without competing with the look’s architectural silhouette.

Emilia Clarke at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

The look was a lesson in restrained glamour: rather than relying on heavy embellishment, Emilia allowed the unusual construction and rich colour to make the statement.

Isa Briones

The Pitt actor delivered one of the evening’s most distinctive vintage-fashion moments in an archival Prada maxi from the label’s Fall/Winter 1998 collection.

Isa donned a metallic olive-green gown featuring black detailing and a beaded harness-like element around the bodice, creating a gothic, almost medieval quality to her look.

Isa Briones at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Styled by Jessica Paster, the vintage piece stood out precisely because it did not look like conventional modern red-carpet glamour.

Sarah Snook

Sarah opted for polished sophistication as she arrived for the ceremony following her acclaimed run on Succession. 

Her carpet beauty felt deliberately muted, with sleek styling and fresh, luminous makeup allowing the outfit and jewellery to take focus.

Sarah Snook at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Sarah is no stranger to Emmy glory, having previously won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for playing Shiv Roy in Succession. This time, the Australian actor was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for All Her Fault.

Brooks Nader

Brooks turned the red carpet into her own Baywatch moment. 

The model and actor donned a figure-hugging, bright red sequined gown with a plunging halter neckline and keyhole detail. The body-conscious silhouette and unmistakable red shade immediately recalled the iconic visual language of Baywatch.

The choice was particularly fitting as Brooks gears up to join the upcoming Baywatch reboot.

Brooks Nader at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

She also presented during the ceremony with her fellow cast members, making the look feel almost like a preview of her next on-screen chapter.

Ayo Edebiri

Ayo continued her impressive run as one of fashion’s most exciting young red-carpet stars, wearing a textured Chanel look.

The actor and The Bear favourite paired her dress with Mikimoto jewellery, embracing the kind of playful, sophisticated dressing that has become a signature of her awards-season appearances.

Ayo Edebiri at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Ayo’s relationship with the Emmys is equally impressive. The actor already won for her work on The Bear and has become one of the ceremony’s most recognisable younger talents, successfully moving between acting, writing and directing.

Julia Garner

Julia opted for a sleek, modern look from Loewe, accessorised with Marco Bicego jewellery.

The streamlined silhouette and subtle shine gave the actor an understated sophistication, while the jewellery added just enough visual interest.

Julia Garner at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Julia is a three-time Emmy winner, having earned recognition for Ozark and Inventing Anna. Her presence on the carpet reflected the evolution of an actor who has become equally comfortable with prestige television and major fashion moments.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle proved that minimalism can be every bit as glamorous as sequins. The veteran actor wore a sleek black Yves Saint Laurent gown with a plunging neckline and an oversized jeweled detail.

Bronze bangles and softly styled waves completed the look, pulling together the ensemble with subtlety.

Michelle Pfeiffer at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Michelle was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Margo’s Got Money Troubles, marking her second career Emmy nomination.

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart

Ford and Calista brought classic Hollywood glamour to the carpet as one of the evening’s most elegant couples.

Ford wore a custom Paul Smith black tuxedo with satin lapels, keeping the look timeless and suitably formal. Calista, meanwhile, went in the opposite direction with a striking fuchsia one-shoulder gown featuring a ruched bodice and dramatic cape detailing.

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

Ford was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Shrinking, giving the veteran star another major television milestone at 84. He ultimately did not take home the award, but his nomination itself was historic as he became the second-oldest nominee ever in the category.

Carey Mulligan

Carey made her Emmy red-carpet debut in a romantic royal-blue and white gown from The Row. The strapless dress, from the brand’s Fall 2026 collection, featured an abstract white pattern, minimal seams and a dramatic bow falling down the back.

Carey Mulligan at the Emmys. Photo: Reuters

The occasion was especially meaningful for Carey, who received her first-ever Emmy nomination for Beef. She was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie alongside Sarah Snook, Claire Danes, Sally Field and Sarah Pidgeon.

The 2026 Emmys demonstrated, once again, that the red carpet was almost a show in itself. From Zendaya’s dazzling Prada spectacle and Nicole’s timeless Chanel elegance to Isa’s archival Prada and Carey’s romantic blue gown, the night’s fashion was as varied as the television performances being celebrated.