Every 2026 award show—the Golden Globes, the Actor Awards, and the BAFTAs—has led to this moment: Welcome to the 2026 Oscars red carpet. The celebrity guest list is finalized, Oscar statuettes are polished, and host Conan O’Brien is rehearsing his monologue as we speak. But wait: Before the lights dim inside the Dolby Theatre, Marie Claire is here to deliver the best live red carpet fashion updates.
As a Marie Claire celebrity fashion expert by day and award-season superfan by night, trust me when I say the 98th Annual Academy Awards will deliver standout fashion moments. Best Actress winners alone have consistently made it a night to remember, from Barbra Streisand’s naked dress in 1961 to Gwyneth Paltrow’s pink Ralph Lauren gown in 1999 and Halle Berry’s sheer Elie Saab dress in 2002. There may not be a dress code (unlike the newly-renamed Actor Awards), but preceding Oscar winners have set a high bar for modern-day nominees.
