From Zendaya’s dazzling Prada moment to Selena Gomez in liquid gold and Ayo Edebiri in Chanel, television’s biggest night turned the red carpet into a showcase of high fashion.
The 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards brought television’s biggest stars to Los Angeles on September 14, but before the trophies were handed out, fashion took center stage.
The red carpet at the Peacock Theater offered a polished mix of classic Hollywood glamour, contemporary minimalism and more experimental statements. Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Ayo Edebiri, Elle Fanning, Quinta Brunson, Nicole Kidman, Colman Domingo and many more arrived in looks that reinforced the Emmys’ place as one of Hollywood’s most important fashion nights.
Zendaya Brings the Drama in Prada
Zendaya once again demonstrated why her red-carpet appearances generate almost as much attention as her performances. The Euphoria star arrived in a sparkling Prada gown covered in embellishment, transforming a traditional evening silhouette into something theatrical and distinctly modern.
Rather than competing with the dress, her beauty look stayed relatively restrained, allowing the intricate gown to remain the focal point.
It was a perfect example of the fashion formula that has become central to Zendaya’s style: couture-level impact balanced by confident simplicity.
Selena Gomez Goes for Gold
Selena Gomez embraced one of the evening’s most appropriate colors.
The actress and singer stepped onto the carpet in a metallic gold Louis Vuitton column gown composed of geometric metal-like elements that created an almost armor-inspired effect. Tiffany & Co. jewelry added another layer of sparkle, while softly styled waves kept the overall look romantic.
The golden palette also created an unmistakable visual connection to the Emmy statuette itself—a glamorous choice perfectly suited to television’s biggest night.
Ayo Edebiri Chooses Chanel
Ayo Edebiri continued her evolution as one of Hollywood’s most interesting fashion figures, appearing at the Emmys in Chanel.
Her presence represented another recurring theme of the evening: established luxury houses embracing a younger generation of television stars whose personal style often mixes traditional elegance with a more individual approach to red-carpet dressing.
Elle Fanning Makes Minimalism Feel Fresh
Elle Fanning took a softer approach in a mint-green Ralph Lauren Collection slip dress.
The silhouette was deliberately simple, allowing the unexpected pastel color and precise styling to do the work. Against a carpet filled with embellishment and dramatic eveningwear, the understated design provided a refreshing contrast.
It also reflected one of the strongest style directions of the evening: a return to clean, recognizable silhouettes rather than excessive construction.
Sarah Pidgeon Channels ’90s Minimalism
One of the night’s most refined fashion moments came from Sarah Pidgeon.
The Love Story actress appeared in a lilac Chanel slip dress embellished with pearls, a look that subtly echoed the minimalist style associated with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, whom Pidgeon portrayed onscreen.
The combination of delicate embellishment, soft color and a streamlined silhouette gave the look a distinctly ’90s sensibility without feeling overly nostalgic.
Colman Domingo Reinvents the Tuxedo
Menswear also had memorable moments.
Colman Domingo arrived in custom Valentino, choosing a robe-inspired jacket with flared trousers rather than relying on the conventional black tuxedo.
The result maintained the formality expected from an awards ceremony while introducing a stronger fashion identity—something Domingo has increasingly made part of his red-carpet signature.
Meg Stalter Becomes an Emmy
Not every celebrity approached the evening with traditional glamour in mind.
Hacks star Meg Stalter transformed herself into a playful interpretation of the Emmy statuette, covering her body in gold and completing the concept with metallic pieces and dramatic wings.
Part fashion performance, part comedy, the look immediately became one of the evening’s most talked-about moments.
It also demonstrated how awards-show fashion continues to evolve beyond gowns and tuxedos into something closer to visual storytelling.
Classic Hollywood Meets a New Generation
Across the carpet, the dominant mood was unmistakably glamorous, but the strongest looks rarely felt overly traditional.
There were column gowns, slip dresses, dramatic jewelry, tailored tuxedos and plenty of shimmer, yet designers and celebrities repeatedly added contemporary details through color, proportion, embellishment and styling.
Nicole Kidman, Quinta Brunson, Hannah Einbinder, Claire Danes, Emilia Clarke, Cynthia Nixon and many others contributed to a carpet that moved comfortably between old-school Hollywood elegance and a more experimental fashion vocabulary.
And that balance may ultimately define the 2026 Emmys red carpet.
Television may have been the reason everyone gathered in Los Angeles, but for a few hours before the ceremony began, fashion had its own starring role.
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