The Best Dressed Celebrities at the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards

September 15, 2026

A fashion and pop culture writer who watches a lot…

The 2026 Emmy Awards arrived with a carpet that immediately felt different from the standard awards-season formula. Swapping traditional red for peacock blue, the ceremony created a cooler backdrop for a night of crystal-covered gowns, liquid metallics, romantic color, and increasingly relaxed interpretations of black tie. On the blue carpet, the strongest looks were ones that seemed to embody who was wearing them.

That distinction matters. Awards-show dressing has become its own fashion language, with actors and their stylists using the red carpet to build visual narratives that can be as carefully considered as the clothes themselves. The best -dressed celebrities of the night understood the assignment without looking as though they were trying too hard. Some arrived with years of fashion credibility behind them; others are still figuring out what their red-carpet identity looks like. Together, they made for one of the more interesting fashion lineups of the season.

Zendaya’s Crystal Prada Moment

Zendaya has spent more than a decade turning awards-show dressing into a discipline of its own, so expectations are naturally high whenever she steps onto a carpet. For her third Emmy nomination for “Euphoria,” she delivered another reason to keep watching.

Her custom Prada gown was essentially a modern interpretation of the naked dress, but the execution was far more sophisticated than the trend’s most obvious iterations. Silver crystals covered the sheer fabric, catching the light across the body before falling into a dramatic train. The plunging neckline reached almost to the waist, giving the silhouette its sensuality without overwhelming the craftsmanship.

Styled by Law Roach, the look was finished with diamond jewelry and a Rolex Lady-Datejust. Zendaya may not have taken home the trophy, but from a fashion perspective, she once again understood the value of making an entrance.

Selena Gomez Goes For Liquid Gold

Selena Gomez approached the evening from the opposite direction, choosing a gold Louis Vuitton gown that delivered glamour without requiring architectural drama. The metallic surface of the dress gave it the appearance of liquid gold, a particularly clever choice against the peacock-blue carpet.

There was something almost deliberately old-Hollywood about the effect. Rather than chasing novelty, Gomez allowed the color, shine, and silhouette to do the work. The result was polished and appropriately celebratory without becoming costume-like.

Florence Pugh Makes A Case For Romantic Dressing

Florence Pugh brought a softer sensibility to the 2026 Emmy Awards blue carpet in lilac. Her strapless gown followed the body before opening into a trumpet skirt, while a shimmering overlay gave the dress dimension.

The more interesting detail was the darker purple fabric extending from her shoulders into oversized sleeves. It transformed what could have been a straightforward strapless evening gown into something more fashion-conscious and slightly theatrical. A multicolored necklace completed the look, adding just enough visual disruption to keep the pastel palette from feeling too sweet.

Oscar Isaac Makes Room For Bigger Proportions

The menswear conversation was just as interesting. Oscar Isaac stepped away from the narrow tuxedo proportions that have dominated formalwear for years, wearing wide-legged trousers with an oversized cream jacket and cummerbund.

The absence of a bow tie was a small but effective decision. It softened the formality of the ensemble while the structured jacket and polished accessories kept it firmly in black-tie territory. Isaac demonstrated how menswear can become more contemporary without abandoning elegance.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Brings Texture To Black Tie

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II also found a way to make a tuxedo feel less expected. His textured gray jacket featured dramatic silky black lapels, creating a contrast that gave the otherwise traditional ensemble more personality.

Black trousers, a white shirt, and a black bow tie kept the foundation familiar. The jacket, however, supplied the fashion argument. It was a reminder that tailoring does not need an unusual color or exaggerated silhouette to make an impression.

The New Carpet Color Changed The Mood

The peacock-blue carpet deserves some credit for the overall visual impact of the evening. Chosen in celebration of NBC’s centennial, the color altered the way familiar awards-show dressing registered on camera. Gold became richer, silver became cooler, and softer shades of pink and baby blue appeared especially luminous.

That backdrop also made the night’s strongest fashion choices feel less predictable. The 2026 Emmy Awards red carpet was not dominated by one color, silhouette, or aesthetic. Instead, the celebrities moved between classic glamour and more contemporary approaches to evening dressing.

The Looks That Felt Most Like Their Wearers

The most revered looks last night were not just beautiful gowns or impressive designer names. They had a relationship with the women and men wearing them.

Zendaya’s Prada continued a decade-long conversation between the actor, Law Roach, and high fashion. Pugh’s lilac gown reflected her willingness to embrace drama. Rossum’s black couture relied on construction rather than spectacle, while Isaac and Abdul-Mateen II demonstrated that menswear can evolve through proportion and texture.

The best celebrities on the carpet understood that dressing well for an awards show is not necessarily about being the loudest person in the frame. It is about creating a look with enough personality to remain interesting after the photographs have stopped circulating. On that measure, this year’s carpet had plenty worth remembering.

Here are some of our other picks for the best-dressed celebrities on the 2026 Emmy Awards red carpet…

Ladies

Ayo Edebiri

Niecy Nash-Betts

Nicole Kidman

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Sepideh Moafi

Sarah Snook

Mariska Hargitay

Aliyah Mastin

Claire Danes

Jessica Williams

Rhea Seehorn

Chase Infiniti

Supriya Ganesh

Lukits Maxwell

Joy Sunday

Lisa Ann Walter

Lisa Rinna

Quinta Brunson

Elle Fanning

Sofia Vergara

Gents

Colman Domingo

Justin Sylvester

Law Roach

Charles Melton

Tyler James Williams

Mark Ronson

Thomas Doherty

Adam Brody

Couples

Ryan Michelle Bathe and Sterling K. Brown

—Read Also

Zendaya’s Crystal Prada Moment

Selena Gomez Goes For Liquid Gold

Florence Pugh Makes A Case For Romantic Dressing

Oscar Isaac Makes Room For Bigger Proportions

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Brings Texture To Black Tie

The New Carpet Color Changed The Mood

The Looks That Felt Most Like Their Wearers

Here are some of our other picks for the best-dressed celebrities on the 2026 Emmy Awards red carpet…

Ladies

Ayo Edebiri

Niecy Nash-Betts

Nicole Kidman

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Sepideh Moafi

Sarah Snook

Mariska Hargitay

Aliyah Mastin

Claire Danes

Jessica Williams

Rhea Seehorn

Chase Infiniti

Supriya Ganesh

Lukits Maxwell

Joy Sunday

Lisa Ann Walter

Lisa Rinna

Quinta Brunson

Elle Fanning

Sofia Vergara

Gents

Colman Domingo

Justin Sylvester

Law Roach

Charles Melton

Tyler James Williams

Mark Ronson

Thomas Doherty

Adam Brody

Couples

Ryan Michelle Bathe and Sterling K. Brown

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