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Although the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony doesn't happen until March 15th, the nominations were announced yesterday morning. For many, even most, of the nominees, this will not be their first red-carpet outing, or even their first time at the Oscars. So I thought it might be fun to look back at some of the nominees' previous red carpet looks and make some predictions about what they might wear to the March ceremony.
And the nominees are...
Actor in a Leading Role
Timothée Chalamet, for Marty Supreme (also nominated for Best Picture, in his role as producer)
2026 Golden Globes
2025 and 2022 Academy Awards
Chalamet tends to go for a cutting edge look, be it unusual fabrics and colors, such as his pale yellow leather ensemble at last year's Oscars, or unusual styling, such as his shirtless black sequined tux jacket at the 2022 Oscars or the unlaced army boots at the 2026 Golden Globes. Chalamet knows how to use color and contemporary cuts, so I predict he will opt for a cropped jacket and loose-fitting pants in a colorful print, such as this look from designer Shoji Kamoda.
Leonardo DiCaprio, for One Battle After Another
2026 Golden Globes
2025 and 2020 Academy Awards
Ethan Hawke, for Blue Moon
2026 Critics Choice Awards
Hawke has made few if any major red carpet appearances in the past few years, but at various film festivals, local premieres of Blue Moon, and promotional appearances, he's sometimes opted for looks other than a standard tuxedo. I predict that Hawke will lean closer to a tuxedo, but in a color, rather than black, and in an interesting texture or fabric, perhaps something like this burgundy velvet-and-satin tuxedo jacket by Brunello Cucinelli.
Michael B. Jordan, for Sinners
2026 Golden Globes
2023 Academy Awards and 2025 Governors Awards
Much like Hawke, Jordan can be somewhat creative in his style at premieres and photo calls, but he tends to go quite conservative at major red carpet events, using perhaps a single striking accessory to set himself apart from the crowd. I predict a double-breasted black tuxedo with a slightly unusual cut, like this Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo with wide satin lapels and wide-leg trousers, perhaps accented with a silk scarf or ascot instead of a bow tie.
Wagner Moura, for The Secret Agent
2026 Golden Globes
Since Moura went with white at both the recent Golden Globes and New York Film Critics Circle Awards, I predict a continuation of the same, perhaps a double-breasted Ralph Lauren with a flared shawl collar.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Benicio del Toro, for One Battle After Another
2026 Golden Globes
2025 Gotham Awards
Although del Toro has not graced the Oscars red carpet since 2016, like DiCaprio, he generally sticks with a standard tuxedo at most public events, and I predict he'll do the same for the Oscars, something like this Zegna wool and mohair tuxedo. Ho hum. At least we can trust that he'll have crazy hair.
Jacob Elordi, for Frankenstein
2026 Golden Globes
2022 Academy Awards and 2025 Academy Museum Gala
Elordi is another plain black tuxedo guy, but I predict he'll add some kind of striking accessory, perhaps a long black coat like the one he wore with his Bottega Veneta tuxedo at the 2025 London Film Festival premiere of Frankenstein. And probably dark glasses again.
Delroy Lindo, for Sinners
2026 Golden Globes
2025 London Sinners premiere and 2026 Critics Choice Awards
Although Lindo proved he can rock a black tuxedo at the Golden Globes, he is no stranger to more eclectic dressing, and I'm hoping for some funky details in his look, perhaps a floral-accented Alexander McQueen tuxedo.
Sean Penn, for One Battle After Another
2026 Golden Globes
2025 Film Festival Lumiere
Penn is not a fan of the red carpet or designer fashion, and leans toward a more relaxed tuxedo or casual suit, so expect to see a black tux with a dress shirt and a long tie, something like this Armani classic fit.
Stellan Skarsgard, for Sentimental Value
2026 Golden Globes
Actress in a Leading Role
Jessie Buckley, for Hamnet
2026 Golden Globes
2022 and 2023 Academy Awards
Buckley's Oscar looks have been a bit all over the place, including a pale pink satin Erdem in 2022 (with a strawberry blond bowl haircut) and a weirdly goth black lace Rodarte frock in 2023 (with a fiery red bob). She went back to pastel satin (and more natural blond hair) for the 2026 Golden Globes, and hopefully she'll stick with that look for the Oscars. I'd love to see her in this rose print satin column from Monique Lhuillier's 2026 Spring Collection, but perhaps with a longer, more exaggerated train or a long, floaty wrap.
Rose Byrne, for If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You
2026 Golden Globes
Kate Hudson, for Song Sung Blue
2026 Golden Globes
Renate Reinsve, for Sentimental Value
2025 Academy Museum Gala and 2022 Academy Awards
Emma Stone, for Bugonia (also in her role as producer, nominated for Best Picture)
2026 Golden Globes
2025 and 2024 Academy Awards
Actress in a Supporting Role
Elle Fanning, for Sentimental Value
2026 Golden Globes
2025 Academy Awards and 2022 Emmy Awards
Fanning, like Stone, can pull off a variety of styles, but to me she is at her best when channeling classic Hollywood and Grace Kelly era glamour, and she does generally opt for glamour at the big red carpet events. She'd look stunning in a vintage Alexander McQueen, like this gold beaded halter gown.
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, for Sentimental Value
2026 Golden Globes
2026 Critics Choice and 2026 National Board of Review Gala
I couldn't find many photos of Lilleaas on the red carpet, but for most press events she was dressed in basic black and nothing overly fancy or unusual. That said, her white chiffon gown for the Golden Globes had a little more personality and boldness, so I'm hoping she continues in that vein for the Oscars. I predict a rich jewel tone and some interesting textures and seaming, as in this burgundy Versace column.
Amy Madigan, for Weapons
2026 Golden Globes
2026 Critics Choice
I think it's safe to say that Amy Madigan is not a fashionista, nor does she want to be. She is clearly not a gown person, appearing in nearly all publicity photos in pants and a jacket. So obviously, her choice of ensemble on the red carpet will be some kind of suit, whether a tuxedo, as at the Golden Globes, or mixing a fabulous embroidered jacket and vest with a pair of jeans for the Critics Choice Awards. I think we can safely say that for the Oscars she'll wear some variation of a tuxedo, probably with some kind of embellishment, like this floral beaded tuxedo by Alexander McQueen.
Fun fact: Amy Madigan holds the record for the longest gap (40 years) between Oscar nominations for an actor. Appropriately enough, her first Oscar nomination (in 1986) was for a film called Twice in a Lifetime.
Wunmi Mosaku, for Sinners
2026 Golden Globes
2025 London Sinners Premiere and 2005 NYC Premiere
Mosaku is certainly not afraid of vivid colors, and she loves a slim silhouette with a flared or full overlayer, so I picture her in a floaty chiffon gown like this one from Monique Lhuillier's 2026 Spring Collection, but in a more vivid bubblegum pink or a jewel tone like emerald green or bright red.
Teyana Taylor, for One Battle After Another
2026 Golden Globes
Other "Veteran" Nominees
Natalie Portman (nominated for Animated Feature Film, as a producer of Arco)
2025 Cannes Film Festival
2024 Golden Globes and 2024 Governors Awards
Portman has toned down her style somewhat since her younger days, opting more often for neutrals and metallics over colors, and almost exclusivity sticking with Dior designs. So I expect her Oscar look, especially appearing as a producer rather than an actor, to be a more classic, conservative look, and given her work towards sustainability, a vintage gown, such as this pale green brocade gown from the Dior Spring 1998 Collection.
2025 Academy Awards
2024 and 2023 Academy Awards
Warren definitely follows a formula on the red carpet: a black tux with wide-legged or flared black pants, some kind of embellishment, especially on the jacket lapels, pointy-toed black boots, and a pile of necklaces or a loosely tied neck scarf. I predict she'll go for a combination of the animal print and the beaded flames, ending up with something like this patterned beaded tux jacket. As long as she comes home with a particular piece of hardware (finally - she's got SEVENTEEN nominations under her belt), I don't think she'll care too much about the bling on her jacket.
Brad Pitt (nominated for Best Picture, as producer of F1)
2025 London F1 Premiere
2023 Golden Globes and 2024 Venice International Film Wolfs Premiere
Pitt tends to stick with classic, well-tailored tuxedos with contemporary details on the red carpet, so I expect him to wear a black tuxedo - or possibly an ivory dinner jacket (very Cary Grant). But perhaps with either an unbuttoned shirt and no tie or an ascot or silk scarf instead of a tie.
Ruth E. Carter (nominated for Best Costume Design, for Sinners)
2026 Critics Choice Awards
2023 and 2019 Academy Awards
Chloé Zhao (nominated for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay of Hamnet)
2026 Golden Globes
Zhao favors subtle, subdued colors, soft fabrics, draped silhouettes, and long sleeves, so I see her wearing something understated like this soft coral caped caftan from Carolina Herrera's 2026 Resort Collection.
Whose look are YOU most looking forward to seeing on the red carpet in March?
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