Fashion’s Boldest Night Finds Its Standouts

The 2026 Grammy Awards delivered music’s biggest night—and fashion’s boldest red carpet yet. While the ceremony celebrated chart-topping wins and historic performances, the red carpet was where personal style took center stage. From avant-garde couture to classic glamour reinventions, artists and nominees showcased a mix of daring silhouettes, statement accessories, and trend-setting aesthetics that defined Grammy fashion in 2026.

This year’s best-dressed list reflects more than glamorous clothing—it highlights fashion as storytelling. Performers and attendees embraced looks that blended personal narratives, cultural heritage, and design innovation. Whether it was boundary-pushing tailoring or refined elegance, the 2026 Grammys rewarded confidence and individuality above all

Rather than chasing excess, many of the evening’s strongest looks balanced risk with restraint, using couture techniques, precise tailoring, and thoughtful design choices to express individuality. As a result, the best-dressed moments felt considered rather than performative. Ultimately, the looks that resonated most were those that embraced contrast—softness against structure, romance offset by edge—proving that great red carpet fashion is as much about editing as it is about impact.

1. Karol G – Paolo Sebastian

Karol G wore a Paolo Sebastian corset gown that paired sheer lace with a meticulously structured foundation. Precise boning and motif placement ensured the transparency felt intentional, contouring the body rather than overwhelming it.

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

2. Lady GAGA – Matières Fécales

True to form, Lady Gaga delivered couture drama in a feathered gown by Matières Fécales, built through intensive hand application and sculpted volume. The controlled silhouette and engineered support elevated spectacle into discipline.

Lady Gaga wearing a dramatic feathered couture gown at the 2026 Grammy Awards red carpet.

CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE//GETTY IMAGES

3. Sabrina Carpenter – Valentino

Sabrina Carpenter’s custom Valentino gown layered a fitted, embellished bodice over cascading tiers of tulle. Each tier was graded for volume without bulk, therefore creating an airy finish supported by couture-level structure.

JOHN SHEARER//GETTY IMAGES

5. Teyana Taylor – Tom Ford

Teyana Taylor’s custom Tom Ford gown relied on engineered cutouts and seam tension to sculpt the body without visible boning. The densely embellished surface demanded internal stabilization, balancing sensual exposure with architectural restraint.

AMY SUSSMAN//GETTY IMAGES

6. Chappell Roan in Mugler

Chappell Roan’s Mugler look was the riskiest statement of the night, embracing sheer fabric and fluid draping with unapologetic confidence. The deep wine hue and barely-there silhouette rejected red carpet restraint while positioning vulnerability and provocation as the evening’s most powerful fashion gesture.

Chappell Roan posing in an avant-garde Mugler ensemble on the Grammys red carpet.

GILBERT FLORES//GETTY IMAGES

7. Somber in Valentino

This shimmering suit is credited to custom Valentino by Alessandro Michele, where dense sequin coverage demands reinforced tailoring so the jacket doesn’t warp under the weight. Romantic transparency met sharp tailoring, creating a deliberate clash between softness and modern edge.

AMY SUSSMAN//GETTY IMAGES

 8. Bad Bunny in Schiaparelli

Notably, Bad Bunny made fashion history in a custom Schiaparelli tuxedo, marking the house’s first major menswear look to debut on a red carpet under creative director Daniel Roseberry. The sculptural design translated Schiaparelli’s surrealist couture codes into tailored menswear while signalling a bold expansion of the house’s visual language.

AMY SUSSMAN//GETTY IMAGES

 

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