The best dresses of the 2026 Emmys: from Zendaya's sexy design to Megan Stalter's outlandish costume

BarcelonaDressed in Prada and with a new haircut, Zendaya has reaffirmed herself as one of the queens of fashion at any awards gala. The performer, who aspired to take home the award for best dramatic actress for Euphoria, was one of the most photographed on the red carpet thanks to a beaded dress with a V-neckline and a carefree pixie cut that is already shaping up to be one of the viral hairstyles of the year. The proposal was classic, but at the same time had a sexy touch.

If Zendaya was the glamorous protagonist, the queen of eccentricity was the comedian Megan Stalter, from the cast of Hacks. Accustomed to going against the grain, this year she chose a look ad hoc for the gala: she appeared dressed as an Emmy statuette. That is to say, as a golden figure of a winged woman holding an atom, an image that represents the mission of the United States Television Academy to support and promote the arts and sciences of television.

Stalter was not the only one to bet on gold. Selena Gomez did too, although her dress fell within the parameters of conventionality. This, however, did not make it any less spectacular. It was a strapless Louis Vuitton dress that stood out for some cylindrical motifs on the side that highlighted the fitted pattern of the design. To complement the proposal, the actress from Only Murders in the Building chose jewelry from Tiffany&Co.

It has been a night of pastel and white colors. In this category enters Nicole Kidman, who also is part of the list of the best dressed of the night, with a Chanel design in white wool crepe and a midi skirt with a side slit. The touch of distinction was given by the feathers on the neckline. To complete the look, some simple black high-heeled shoes, also by Chanel.

In the white team we have also seen Macaulay Culkin, the child star of the 90s, who now lives semi-retired from the screens. The protagonist of Home Alone has gone entirely in white: suit jacket, shirt and tie.

Another Emmy regular, Claire Danes, also chose a discreet color, a soft silver, although her design was more daring than Nicole Kidman's. The star of The Beast Within surprised with a dress featuring a sculptural bodice thanks to a sleeve shaped like a semicircle.

Many actresses chose colors that moved within the range of pinks and lavenders. In this group were Florence Pugh, who will soon premiere the new adaptation of East of Eden on Netflix, and Emilia Clarke, remembered for Game of Thrones. The former chose a design from the firm of her compatriot Vivienne Westwood, who passed away in 2022, which stood out for its romantic style with draped lavender sleeves. For her part, Clarke opted for a strapless dress from which a medium-length train emerged. At the bottom, a small bow decorating a side slit was a surprise.

Among those who have avoided the most classic and traditional colors is Ayo Edebiri, from The bear, who opted for a two-tone Chanel dress, powder blue for the dress and red for the back bow. Undoubtedly one of the proposals with the most personality. Among those who have moved away from the established script, Emma D'Arcy, the Rhaenyra Targaryen of House of the Dragon, deserves a place of honor. As a non-binary person, they chose a look that consisted of a black suit jacket that they combined with a boiler-toned shirt.

Taking risks is not always synonymous with success on the red carpet. In the chapter of the night's missteps figures Shailene Woodley, who opted for a look by Balenciaga that had too many elements, which made the ensemble lack harmony. On one hand, some gold beaded palazzo pants. On the other, a blue halter top with a wide front opening. To top it all off, some burgundy gloves.

While Woodley went a bit too far, others fell a little short. This is the case for Michelle Pfeiffer, who opted for a correct but unimpressive black Saint Laurent dress with a V-neck and an oversized jewel in the center.

In the men's section, Colman Domingo is once again one of the highlights of the night, with a Valentino outfit featuring cream-colored trousers and a caldera-colored Mao collar jacket. The distinctive touch is provided by a purple belt. On the list of the best-dressed men of the night is also Sterling K. Brown, known for This is us and Paradise, who has moved away from the always safe black to wear a navy blue Brunello Cucinelli suit jacket.