The 98th Academy Awards red carpet concluded on March 15, 2026, showcasing a monumental display of French heritage fashion and record-breaking jewelry. The massive staging, which required 2,400 hours and more than 400 workers to assemble into a 900-foot runway by 60 feet wide, served as the backdrop for the film industry’s most significant sartorial event.
Kate Hudson delivered the most expensive numerical highlight of the night. She arrived wearing a mint green Giorgio Armani Privé peplum dress paired with more than 41 carats of rare green diamonds valued at $35 million. Feathers and fringe heavily dominated the womenswear trends across the board. Teyana Taylor wore a black and white feathered Chanel dress, Nicole Kidman opted for a white peplum Chanel gown with feathers, and Demi Moore walked in a black and green feathered Gucci dress with a degradé effect.
Gwyneth Paltrow walked the Oscars red carpet for the first time in 11 years, wearing a custom Giorgio Armani Privé ivory silk strapless gown with sheer side panels. Anne Hathaway wore an embroidered floral Valentino gown, which fashion commentators noted was a direct wink to her character in “The Devil Wears Prada,” timed strategically ahead of the sequel’s upcoming release in May. While some celebrities captured attention off the carpet by sharing unusual baby photos online, the primary global focus remained firmly on the Los Angeles arrivals.
Menswear saw significant departures from the traditional black tuxedo. Timothée Chalamet wore an all-white Givenchy suit, while Pedro Pascal pinned a massive floral brooch to a crisp white shirt. Leonardo DiCaprio debuted a new mustache paired with a classic tuxedo. Michael B. Jordan, who won Best Actor for his role in “Sinners,” walked the carpet in a sharp, all-black Louis Vuitton ensemble.
Michael B. Jordan, nominated for best actor, made a statement on the red carpet in an all-black ensemble. https://t.co/0RWnpaGS2i
— Courier-Post (@cpsj) March 16, 2026
The 2026 carpet was heavily dominated by French heritage houses. Dior’s new creative director Jonathan Anderson dressed stars including Rose Byrne and Mia Goth in floral-inspired couture. Elle Fanning wore a dramatic white corseted ballgown from Givenchy by Sarah Burton, Emma Stone chose a metallic Louis Vuitton dress, and Jessie Buckley wore a color-blocked red and pink chiffon gown by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel.