Glittering glamour: Stars embrace sparkles, feathers and bold colour at 2026 Oscars

Glamorous sparkles are an awards season staple, and celebrities like Emma Stone, Teyana Taylor and Elle Fanning showed how to bring the trend into 2026 at the 98th Academy Awards.

Emma Stone, nominated for best actress for her role in Bugonia, leaned into glamorous minimalism in a silvery white Louis Vuitton gown.

Emma Stone was nominated for best actress for her role in Bugonia (Jordan Strauss/AP)

The ensemble channelled Jane Austen-style fashion with capped sleeves, brought into the 21st century with a dramatic scooped back and low neckline.

Teyana Taylor wore Chanel (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Meanwhile Teyana Taylor, who was nominated for best actress in a supporting role for One Battle After Another, wore a black and white look by Chanel with lines of silver streaking across the bodice.

The deceptively simple strapless top cascaded into a multi-tiered fringed skirt, bringing a bit of the signature red carpet drama Taylor has become known for.

Sentimental Value star Elle Fanning (Richard Shotwell/AP)

Sentimental Value star Elle Fanning, who was up for best actress in a supporting role, incorporated a bit of shimmer into her Givenchy ensemble.

The princess-style strapless gown had a silver bedazzled floral motif on the bodice, a voluminous white skirt with extra silver detailing scattered across, worn with an on-trend low bun and statement diamond necklace.

Kate Hudson combined colour and sparkles (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Kate Hudson, who was nominated the best actress gong for Song Sung Blue, combined the trends for colour and sparkles in her look.

She walked the red carpet with her mother, Goldie Hawn, wearing a pale blue sequinned strapless gown with peplum detailing by Armani Prive.

Wunmi Mosaku wore Louis Vuitton (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Wunmi Mosaku, the Sinners star nominated for best actress in a supporting role, wore a sequinned teal gown with an asymmetric neckline and cut-out on one shoulder, by Louis Vuitton.

Jessie Buckley in custom Chanel (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Not all celebrities opted for some form of shimmer – like Hamnet star Jessie Buckley, who instead experimented with colour on the red carpet in a vibrant custom Chanel look.

Buckley – who won for best actress – modelled a chic boat neckline with a dramatic satin red top, paired with a softer blush gown underneath. She paired it with a matching red lip, elegant slicked-back hair and a diamond necklace.

Australian actress Rose Byrne (Gregory Bull/AP)

Australian actress Rose Byrne, who was nominated for best leading actress for her role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, attended the Oscars in a strapless black fishtail gown by Dior, with floral embroidery across the bodice and hem.

Byrne paired the look with slicked back hair, a statement necklace and a bright red lip.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 star Anne Hathaway (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Also leaning into a floral motif was Anne Hathaway.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 star – set to be released on 1 May – donned a dramatic Valentino gown embossed with pink flowers, accessorised with black opera gloves and Roger Vivier, Jewel Heel Sandals in satin.

One Battle After Another star Chase Infiniti (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Up-and-comer Chase Infiniti, who appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another, chose springtime hues for her pale purple gown by French fashion house Louis Vuitton.

The form-fitting bodice was accentuated by a billowing ruffled skirt, and Infiniti kept her look relaxed with her micro braids left loose.

Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve (Gregory Bull/AP)

Also opting for colour on the carpet was Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve, nominated for the best actress award for her role in Sentimental Value.

Reinsve also wore a Louis Vuitton creation: a vivid red strapless dress with an asymmetric hem. She leaned into the minimalism of the look with simple, slicked back hair, no necklace and strappy sandals.

Demi Moore on the red carpet (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Demi Moore, who was nominated at last year’s Oscars for her role in The Substance, proved feathers are the trend of the season in dramatic gown.

The sculptural strapless look was almost entirely covered with black feathers that gave a green tinge around the midriff. The outfit was by Gucci, following Moore sitting front row at the Italian brand’s latest fashion show in Milan last month.

Nicole Kidman posing on the red carpet (Richard Shotwell/AP)

Nicole Kidman also showed that feathers is a big trend this awards season, wearing a pink Chanel ensemble.

Timothee Chalamet (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Marty Supreme star Timothee Chalamet, whose chances at winning the best actor prize were called into question after his recent comments about ballet and opera, was one of the few men experimenting with fashion on the red carpet.

He wore an unusual all-white double-breasted Givenchy tuxedo, paired with matching white shoes and black sunglasses.

Sinners star Michael B Jordan (Jordan Strauss/AP)

While Michael B. Jordan – who won for best actor, for his role in Sinners – went for all-black tuxedo instead.

Leonardo DiCaprio opted for a classic black suit (Jordan Strauss/AP)

Leonardo DiCaprio – who was also in the running for the best actor gong, for his role in One Battle After Another – opted for a more classic black suit with a white shirt and black bowtie.