Oscars 2026 Red Carpet Hits and Misses: The Most Discussed Looks

A night of glittering couture, daring silhouettes, and eyebrow-raising style choices lit up Hollywood as the Oscars 2026 red carpet unfolded. While some ensembles drew gasps of admiration, others ignited fierce debate online.

The 2026 Academy Awards red carpet quickly transformed into a spectacle of bold glamour, theatrical silhouettes, and headline-grabbing couture as celebrities arrived in looks designed to dominate the spotlight.

From elegant Old Hollywood gowns to dramatic statement pieces, the evening's fashion choices sparked passionate reactions across social media.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow stepped onto the Oscars 2026 red carpet in a sleek yet daring ivory creation from Giorgio Armani Privé. At first glance, the strapless silk gown delivered classic Old Hollywood elegance, with a smooth silhouette that skimmed the body. But the look held a surprise.

A turn to the side revealed dramatic high cut-out slits running up the gown's sides, exposing sparkly sheer trousers beneath the flowing fabric — an unexpected twist that instantly set tongues wagging online.

Paltrow completed the ensemble with dazzling Tiffany & Co. jewelry, including a platinum and 18-carat yellow gold necklace alongside platinum and diamond rings and earrings. The earrings alone featured more than eight carats of diamonds, while the rings added even more shimmer to the eye-catching look.

Online reactions were sharply divided. One person said, "Where did glamour go?? This is a big pass." Another commenter wrote, "I'm getting old. I don't get it. 😂" One fan stated, "Omg no way. Honestly it's not attractive and so overdone!"

Another commenter said, "That looks cheap and tacky👎." One person expressed their thoughts, "Showing a lot more then love to her fans. Although an inexpensive dress because they forgot the sides. Lol." Another netizen wrote, "Her face looks different 😮." A third fan had something different to say, "That's not fashion. It's like wearing a towel after getting out of the shower."

But others rushed to defend the star. One person said, "She looks gorgeous!!🙌🙌." Another commenter prasied her, "She looks amazing." A third netizen cheered, "I love this dress!! 😍."

One person said, "So many jealous hateful people in the comments section 😂. Doesn't surprise me." Meanwhile, another wrote, "Love the dress! It has a shimmer panel on the side that looks like it's shorts. Beautiful on her body . She took a risk and I like it."

One fan compared her current look to another look from earlier this week, "This is so much better than the green mini with the flowery lace white tights we saw her in earlier this week. Modern, fresh, flattering—that's the Gwyneth we love!" A netizen wrote, "She is chic, she is glam, and elegant. Wish to see more of this on the red carpet…."

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson arrived in a stunning jade-green bejeweled gown from Armani Privé's Spring 2026 collection, delivering one of the evening's most dazzling red-carpet moments.

The strapless dress featured a sweetheart neckline with a sheer plunge panel, while the bodice shimmered with intricate embellishments that sparkled under the lights. A sculpted peplum detail added striking structure to the waist.

Hudson styled her blonde hair in soft waves cascading over one shoulder, pairing the look with glowing makeup and rare green diamond jewelry that amplified the gown's vivid color.

Her accessories came from Garatti Milano and included over 41 carats of extraordinary green diamonds. The necklace centered around a 16-carat Fancy Green diamond, while the earrings featured 5.01-carat intense green diamonds. A 15-carat Fancy Deep Green diamond ring completed the breathtaking set.

Designer Milena Garatti revealed the jewelry had been created specifically for the Oscars, with the vivid stones chosen to mirror the color of Hudson's gown and showcase the brilliance of the diamonds.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore turned heads in a dramatic peacock-inspired Gucci gown that delivered one of the night's most theatrical fashion moments.

The strapless design featured a sculpted bodice covered in shimmering scale-like embellishments in deep green tones, creating the illusion of peacock feathers across the torso.

Black feathers burst dramatically across the neckline, framing her shoulders, while the skirt flowed into layers of sweeping feathers that trailed into a long train behind her.

Moore kept the rest of her styling understated, wearing minimal diamond jewelry and styling her dark hair straight with a center part — allowing the show-stopping gown to take center stage.

The bold design quickly sparked debate online. One person stated, "Beautiful, but that cannot be healthy 😞." Another commenter wrote, "Being stick thin is not attractive!" A third fan wondered, "Why are all the actresses now so incredibly thin? 😢."

One netizen didn't hesitate to express their opinion, "The dress isn't pretty—really not pretty at all." But many viewers praised the dramatic ensemble.

One person wrote, "Her dress is amazing and she looks spectacular, i dont understand the criticism." Another one said, "Spectacular!!! Love the dress." A third gushed, "Oh my goodness! Breathtaking 😍."

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman embraced soft, romantic glamour in a custom powder-pink silk Chanel gown designed by Matthieu Blazy.

The strapless dress featured a structured bustier adorned with white and gray crystals alongside black bead detailing, creating a subtle sparkle across the bodice.

At the waist, a feathered peplum in shades of beige, pink, nude, and apricot extended outward before cascading into the skirt, with delicate feathers continuing toward the hem and train.

Kidman styled her blonde hair in soft flowing waves, keeping her jewelry understated to allow the intricate couture design to shine.

Online viewers were quick to praise the look. One person wrote, "The work that she had done has been done so tastefully. She looks fresh and natural👏."

Another commenter said, "Gorgeous! And appreciate her spirits after the divorce. I'm sure it was a lot to process (and still will). ♥️You look beautiful Nicole!! ❤️." One fan cheered, "I'm calling best dressed!" A netizen said, "Hair is SO wow 🔥." Another stated, "Divorce glow up 🔥." A third praised her, "She looks amazing."

Emma Stone

Emma Stone stepped onto the red carpet wearing a delicately shimmering white Louis Vuitton gown that blended timeless elegance with subtle modern detail.

The hand-embroidered dress featured an empire cut, delicate cap sleeves, and a square neckline that framed the actress's shoulders. The column silhouette flowed smoothly to the floor before dipping into a dramatic low back.

Stone paired the gown with minimal jewelry, letting the design speak for itself. Her signature copper bob was styled with a soft side part and gentle curls, completing the understated look.

Her beauty look featured Louis Vuitton products, including the LV Ombres Eyeshadow palette in Beige Memento and LV Rouge lipstick in Passport to Paris.

Online reactions, however, quickly shifted toward discussion of her appearance. One person wrote, "Reminded me a little bit of the Bridgerton type of dresses." Another said, "Wow! She's had a lot of work done. I almost didn't recognize her. Still very pretty though."

One fan wrote, "I hate what she did to her face." A second said, "She looks pretty but I feel like the look is missing something. Maybe a few more natural diamond accessories to complement her dress would've helped…"

A netizen stated, "I wish she would've left her face alone." Another said something similar, "Lay off the upper lip filler, girl!" One person came to her rescue, "I understand the criticism, but she's phenomenal and she looks great, even though she looks different."

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio opted for timeless red-carpet sophistication, wearing a classic black tuxedo with satin lapels. He paired the suit with a crisp white dress shirt and a traditional black bow tie, delivering a polished and effortlessly elegant look.

A gold bee-shaped lapel pin added a distinctive detail to the ensemble, while his neatly groomed mustache and slicked-back hair created a slightly vintage Hollywood feel.

Fans quickly reacted to the look online. One person stated, "he looks so good." Another commenter gushed, "The mustache 🔥🔥🔥." One fan added, "Suits him pretty well, tbh 👀."

An observant fan said, "He lost some weight. Looking good!" Another wrote, "He looks great and simultaneously doesn't look like himself."

Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal delivered one of the evening's most unconventional menswear moments with a striking monochrome look. The actor wore high-waisted black trousers paired with a crisp white dress shirt featuring a structured bib front. The standout detail was a dramatic feathered floral embellishment across the chest, adding texture and couture flair.

Pascal completed the outfit with black dress shoes, round eyeglasses, and neatly styled hair. He also surprised fans by appearing clean-shaven, abandoning his signature mustache and beard.

Online reactions quickly poured in. A fan said, "Wait, I thought he said he would never be without a mustache. What happened?"

Another commenter wrote, "He looks 20 years younger." A third stated, "Want mustache backkkkk!!!" One person said, "He looks so happy and healthy!! Young [expletive] as well!!"

Another wrote, "Gorgeous look! 😍❤️🔥." One fan said something different, "Too girlie." Another stated, "He looks so Old Hollywood here omg."

Teyana Taylor

Teyana Taylor commanded attention in a dramatic black-and-white halter gown that highlighted her striking silhouette. The shimmering bodice hugged her figure before transitioning into bold, feathered panels that extended into a sweeping train, creating one of the most theatrical red-carpet moments of the night.

Taylor styled her hair in a sculpted pixie cut and completed the look with sparkling statement diamond jewelry. Her confident pose and powerful styling immediately caught the attention of fans online. One person said, "One thing about Teyanna, she stays looking gorgeous 🔥 her team always got her looking right😎."

A fan wrote, "She's about to have another heck of a run on fashion this year." Another gushed, "Absolutely gorgeous! 😍😍." A third cheered, "Her stylist needs extra coins🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥."

The Oscars 2026 red carpet once again proved that fashion can be just as captivating as the awards themselves. From elegant couture gowns to bold experimental designs, the night's most talked-about looks sparked endless conversation online.