Television's biggest stars gathered at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 14 for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, and the red carpet delivered a wide range of standout looks ahead of the ceremony. From custom couture to career-first red carpet moments, several appearances stood out as the night's strongest fashion statements.
Zendaya arrived in a custom Prada gown, a sheer, silver crystal-covered design with a plunging neckline that put a fresh spin on the "naked dress" trend. She paired the look with Mikimoto jewelry and her pixie haircut, a style she has worn repeatedly throughout 2026. Zendaya is nominated this year for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the final season of Euphoria, giving the appearance extra weight beyond the outfit itself. A closer look at her full Emmys style moment is available in a separate FashionTimes feature.
Nicole Kidman made her first Emmys red carpet appearance in nine years, returning to the ceremony in a white Chanel gown with a feathered-look neckline. Her last Emmys appearance came in 2017, when she won Outstanding Lead Actress for Big Little Lies, making her return one of the evening's notable full-circle moments for longtime awards-season watchers.
Grace Gummer opened the night's black-tie looks in a black strapless Dior gown designed from Jonathan Anderson's resort 2027 collection. The dress featured pearl buttons running along a ruched, long skirt, and Gummer paired it with a 1920s-inspired diamond choker and glowy, pared-back makeup from Dior Beauty. The look followed a strong recent red-carpet run for Gummer, who has increasingly become a fixture on best-dressed lists this year.
Carey Mulligan made her Emmys debut in a blue and white strapless gown by The Row, featuring a floral motif and a long, floor-length bow detail at the back. The appearance marked her first-ever Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for the second season of Beef, a series that picked up sixteen total nominations this year. The regal, minimalist gown fit Mulligan's understated approach to red-carpet dressing and stood out among the night's more elaborately embellished looks.
Together, the looks reflected a night that balanced maximalist statement pieces, like Zendaya's crystal-covered Prada and Gummer's pearl-detailed Dior, against more restrained silhouettes from Mulligan and Kidman. With awards still being handed out and more red-carpet photos continuing to surface, the 2026 Emmys are shaping up as one of the more fashion-forward ceremonies of this year's television awards season.
