The Best-Dressed Stars Brought Old Hollywood Glamour to the 2026 Academy Museum Gala

October 19, 2026

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A fashion and pop culture writer who watches a lot…

The 2026 Academy Museum Gala brought Hollywood’s biggest names to Los Angeles on Saturday night, with celebrities turning the red carpet into a showcase of archival couture, sculptural gowns, and modern interpretations of classic eveningwear. Across the evening, the standout looks shared a common thread: a willingness to revisit the glamour of Hollywood’s past without making it feel dated.

Now in its sixth year, the 2026 Academy Museum Gala has become a significant date on the entertainment and fashion calendars, bringing together influential figures from film, music, and fashion to support the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. This year’s event celebrated Charlize Theron, John Carpenter, and Colman Domingo, while also raising funds for the museum’s exhibitions, screenings, and educational programs. But before the evening’s honors and performances took center stage, the red carpet delivered its own headline, with the best-dressed celebrities offering a range of designer looks that balanced timeless elegance with contemporary style.

Naomi Ackie Leads the Red Carpet in Balenciaga

Naomi Ackie was among the evening’s early standouts, arriving in a strapless purple Balenciaga gown with a dramatic, tiered silhouette. The voluminous construction gave the dress a commanding presence, while its saturated color made it one of the more memorable looks of the night.

Rather than relying on excessive embellishment, the gown made its statement through shape, texture, and proportion. Ackie’s appearance captured the direction of this year’s red carpet, where classic formalwear gained new energy through bold silhouettes and confident styling.

Kim Kardashian Brings Archival Balenciaga to the Gala

Kim Kardashian turned to fashion history for her appearance, wearing a strapless pastel silk gown from Balenciaga’s 1951 archives. The design featured decorative embroidery, intricate embellishments, and a wrapped sash trailing from the bust. She completed the look with a Leviev diamond collar necklace and a retro bouffant hairstyle.

The archival choice placed couture craftsmanship at the center of her appearance, connecting an earlier era of fashion with the contemporary celebrity red carpet. At an event celebrating the preservation of cinema, Kardashian’s vintage-inspired ensemble also felt particularly fitting.

Kendall Jenner Gives Polka Dots a Valentino Makeover

Kendall Jenner brought a playful element to the evening in custom Valentino, built around three different interpretations of polka dots. Traditional dots covered the bodice, oversized sequined versions decorated the skirt, and smaller dots appeared on her kitten-heel pumps.

The monochromatic palette helped tie the details together, keeping the look cohesive despite its contrasting patterns and textures. Jenner’s appearance demonstrated how a familiar motif can become a striking eveningwear statement when approached with a clear design vision.

Hunter Schafer Looks to Classic Cinema in Prada

Hunter Schafer brought a cinematic reference to the red carpet in a floor-length black Prada gown with a strapless sweetheart neckline. The skirt featured a high slit trimmed with ribbon, revealing contrasting white material underneath.

The combination recalled the glamour of classic Italian cinema while retaining a contemporary edge through its construction and contrasting details. Rather than reproducing a vintage look outright, Schafer’s ensemble reworked familiar Hollywood codes into something more directional.

Greta Lee and Alexa Demie Make Their Designer Statements

Greta Lee wore a 1920s-inspired beaded sheath from Jonathan Anderson’s Dior, drawing on vintage glamour through intricate detailing and a silhouette that felt distinct from the evening’s fuller gowns. The look reflected the continued appeal of historical references in contemporary luxury fashion.

Alexa Demie, meanwhile, appeared in a custom Chanel look by Matthieu Blazy. Her ensemble added to a night in which established fashion houses offered fresh interpretations of their signatures, reinforcing the relationship between designer craftsmanship and individual red carpet style.

Charlize Theron, Teyana Taylor, and Other Stars Join the Best-Dressed Lineup

The gala welcomed a broad cross-section of entertainment figures, including Charlize Theron, Teyana Taylor, Jessica Biel, Kendall Jenner, and other familiar faces. Theron received the Icon Award, filmmaker and composer John Carpenter was presented with the Luminary Award, and Colman Domingo received the Vantage Award.

The evening was co-chaired by Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg, and Kate Capshaw. Taylor Swift also delivered a special performance, adding a musical highlight to an event that raised more than $14 million for the Academy Museum’s programming.

A Red Carpet Defined by Modern Hollywood Glamour

The best-dressed celebrities at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala demonstrated that classic Hollywood glamour does not have to mean predictable eveningwear. Archival couture, intricate beading, sequins, and dramatic silhouettes offered different ways to revisit familiar fashion references, while contemporary design details kept the looks relevant.

As the Academy Museum Gala continues to establish its place among Los Angeles’ major cultural events, its red carpet is becoming an increasingly compelling meeting point for cinema and fashion. This year, the most memorable appearances were those that embraced the traditions of formal dressing while leaving enough room for personal expression.

Here are our picks for the best-dressed celebrities at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala…

Ladies

Naomi Ackie

Kim Kardashian

Kendall Jenner

Jesicca Biel

Kate Hudson

Wunmi Mosaku

Adria Ajorna

Tracee Ellis Ross

Janelle Monàe

Jodie Turner Smith

Sofía Vergara

Priyanka Chopra

Alexa Demie

Emma Chamberlain

Sophie Thatcher

Amanda Seyfried

Eiza Gonzalez

Chase Infiniti

Charlize Theron

Greta Lee

Ana de Armas

Hailey Bieber

Sabrina Carpenter

Teyana Taylor

Hunter Schafer

Elle Fanning

Taylor Swift

Karlie Kloss

Summer H. Howell

Inde Navarrette

Cailee Spaeny

Demi Moore

Gents

Colman Domingo

Jacob Elordi

Andrew Garfield

Featured image: Kuba Dabrowski for Schiaparelli | Pierresnaps for Kim Kardashian | Dalvin Adams for Janelle Monàe

—Read Also

Naomi Ackie Leads the Red Carpet in Balenciaga

Kim Kardashian Brings Archival Balenciaga to the Gala

Kendall Jenner Gives Polka Dots a Valentino Makeover

Hunter Schafer Looks to Classic Cinema in Prada

Greta Lee and Alexa Demie Make Their Designer Statements

Charlize Theron, Teyana Taylor, and Other Stars Join the Best-Dressed Lineup

A Red Carpet Defined by Modern Hollywood Glamour

Here are our picks for the best-dressed celebrities at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala…

Ladies

Naomi Ackie

Kim Kardashian

Kendall Jenner

Jesicca Biel

Kate Hudson

Wunmi Mosaku

Adria Ajorna

Tracee Ellis Ross

Janelle Monàe

Jodie Turner Smith

Sofía Vergara

Priyanka Chopra

Alexa Demie

Emma Chamberlain

Sophie Thatcher

Amanda Seyfried

Eiza Gonzalez

Chase Infiniti

Charlize Theron

Greta Lee

Ana de Armas

Hailey Bieber

Sabrina Carpenter

Teyana Taylor

Hunter Schafer

Elle Fanning

Taylor Swift

Karlie Kloss

Summer H. Howell

Inde Navarrette

Cailee Spaeny

Demi Moore

Gents

Colman Domingo

Jacob Elordi

Andrew Garfield

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