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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Maddy Mussen

Critics' Choice Awards best dressed 2026: Elle Fanning, Ariana Grande, Jacob Elordi

They say exercise, hydration and exposure to sunlight are key to surviving the winter months — I say it’s a heavy dose of glamour. We can thank awards season for fulfilling this need each year, with the first few red carpets of 2026 providing some much-needed razzle-dazzle among the doom and gloom of January.

Last night, the Critics’ Choice Awards saw the great and good of Hollywood descend upon the Barker Hangar for the 2026 ceremony, celebrating achievements in film and TV from across the past year.

And it did exactly what an awards ceremony should do: there were professions of love in acceptance speeches (Jessie Buckley said she could “drink” Paul Mescal like water, while Timothée Chalamet thanked his girlfriend Kylie Jenner), there was piss-taking of the highest degree (Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs dressed in all orange, mocking Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner’s Marty Supreme moment) and there was some good, old fashioned finery.

Paul W. Downs and Meg Stalter reference Timothée and Kylie’s recent all-orange look (AFP via Getty Images)

Highlights included Elle Fanning in a plunging, archival Ralph Lauren chainmail dress and Ariana Grande in a pink gown with a sheer, polka-dot overlay by Alberta Ferretti, which appears to be a nod to Diahann Carroll's 1969 Oscars look.

The male contingent was pleasingly inventive in their suiting, with Ethan Hawke rocking an embellished black and white look, while Michael B. Jordan diverted from the standard black tux by wearing a burgundy double-breasted suit by Louis Vuitton. However, Trammel Tillman and Jacob Elordi proved that sometimes monochrome really is king, with the actors’ respective all-white and all-black suits making for a very chic red carpet moment.

Ariana Grande in Alberta Ferretti (Getty Images for Critics Choice)

Younger attendees proved the kids are, in fact, all right (sartorially at least), with Chase Infiniti, Bella Ramsey and Owen Cooper handling the red carpet pressure with ease. Infiniti wore a butter yellow draped two-piece by Louis Vuitton, comprised of a column skirt and a layered, cropped cape, while Ramsey had their Harry Styles moment in a bedazzled black Prada jumpsuit, paired with a crimson shirt. Cooper was crisp and stylish in a white shirt and leather jacket with oversized trousers, all Bottega Veneta.

For these looks and more, check out the best dressed below.

Best dressed at the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026

Elle Fanning in Ralph Lauren (Getty Images)
Erin Doherty in Louis Vuitton (Getty Images for Critics Choice)
Ariana Grande in Alberta Ferretti (Getty Images)
Mia Goth in Dior (Getty Images)
Jacob Elordi in Bottega Veneta (Getty Images)
Chase Infiniti in Louis Vuitton (Getty Images)
Owen Cooper in Bottega Veneta (Getty Images for Critics Choice)
Bella Ramsey in Prada (Getty Images)
Jackie Tohn in Khoon Hooi (Getty Images)
Ethan Hawke in Bode (Getty Images)
Michael B. Jordan in Louis Vuitton (Getty Images)
Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter (Getty Images)
Tramell Tillman in Anamika Khanna (Getty Images for FIJI Water)
Rose Byrne (Getty Images for Critics Choice)
Teyana Taylor in Saint Laurent (Getty Images)
Leighton Meester in Carolina Herrera and Adam Brody in Valentino (Getty Images)
Odessa A’zion in Ott Dubai (Getty Images for Critics Choice)
Amanda Seyfried in Valentino (Getty Images for Critics Choice)
Jessie Buckley in Dior (Getty Images for Critics Choice)

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