Grammys 2026 red carpet: music superstars chose sides between gothic noir and cloud dancer white
The 2026 Grammys red carpet at Los Angeles’s Crypto.com Arena revealed a striking visual divide. As music’s biggest names arrived, two opposing aesthetics took shape: severe black silhouettes delivered controlled drama, while soft creams and architectural whites offered restraint and clarity. This was less a question of colour than of intent, with artists using dress to signal mood, identity and positioning.
The result was one of the most visually considered red carpets in recent Grammy history, where each look carried meaning beyond surface-level glamour.
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Hailey Bieber’s minimalist canvas in dark Alaïa
Hailey Bieber in Alaïa demonstrates minimalist dressing at Grammys 2026 (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Hailey Bieber demonstrated the power of restraint in a floor-length strapless black Alaïa gown. The dress featured the house’s signature second-skin knitwear and subtle sheer panelling, creating an architectural silhouette that commanded attention. Her severe styling—slicked-back bun and minimal silver choker—transformed simplicity into sophistication.
Lady Gaga’s return to fantasy in Matières Fécales feathers
Lady Gaga in custom Matières Fécales creates gothic drama at Grammys 2026 (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images)
Lady Gaga’s custom Matières Fécales gown signalled her return to grotesque glamour. For Grammys 2026, the design duo created an obsidian masterpiece of densely layered black feathers with aggressive, jagged directionality. The dramatic silhouette transformed Gaga into a formidable creature perfectly aligned with her Mayhem album aesthetic.
Sabrina Carpenter’s blush romance in Valentino
Sabrina Carpenter in custom Valentino honours the late designer at Grammys 2026 (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Nominated for six Grammys, Sabrina Carpenter delivered an ethereal tribute to the late Valentino Garavani in custom Valentino. Her cloud dancer cream gown featured intricate shimmering beadwork cascading into tiered ruffles with sheer flutter sleeves. Worn with a romantic, low updo, Carpenter embodied dreamy, melancholic grace befitting the moment.
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Billie Eilish’s deconstructed style in upcycled Hodakova
Billie Eilish in Hodakova subverting office attire at Grammys 2026 (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Billie Eilish embraced conceptual tailoring in Hodakova, the Swedish brand renowned for upcycling corporate waste into statement fashion. Her dark jacket, adorned with white shirt sleeves, was paired with a tailored skirt and white knee-high socks. The subversive office-inspired look perfectly captured her evolved aesthetic for the “Wildflower” era.
Olivia Dean’s architectural cream Chanel gown
Olivia Dean in custom Chanel embodying the cloud dancer trend at Grammys 2026 (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean perfectly captured the Cloud Dancer aesthetic in custom Chanel. Her rich cream gown featured clean lines and a dramatic scoop back that showcased architectural precision without appearing overworked. Accessorised with Cartier jewellery, Dean established herself as a classicist focused on longevity rather than viral moments.
Tyla’s DSquared2 look with wild feather textures
Tyla in DSquared2 embracing organic textures at Grammys 2026 (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Winner of Best African Music Performance for her song “Push to Start”, South African star Tyla chose a DSquared2 gown, featuring a dangerously low-cut sand-coloured bodice exploding into a textured feather train with gold beading. The organic disarray of the feathers paired with a loose updo created a look that felt both regal and undone.
Rosé’s Giambattista Valli couture moment
Rosé in custom Giambattista Valli Couture referencing fashion history at Grammys 2026 (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
At the Grammys 2026, Rosé delivered fashion literacy in custom Giambattista Valli Couture. Her black velvet strapless bodice erupted into a billowing white train, referencing Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic 1955 design for Christian Dior. A blond curly bob and a Tiffany & Co bangle punctuated her Grammys 2026 look, underlining her rise as a solo artist.
HUNTR/X’s coordinated red-carpet looks
The HUNTR/X trio in custom looks bridging different styles at Grammys 2026 (Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
The fictional band’s real-life voices, who won Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Golden”, arrived as a fashion force. Audrey Nuna commanded attention in custom Thom Browne Couture, featuring the brand’s signature surrealist tailoring with distorted proportions and architectural noir aesthetic. Ejae brought Parisian elegance in a midnight blue Dior gown, embodying the house’s refined silhouette with contemporary edge. Rei Ami chose custom Guvanch, the emerging designer known for bold structural experimentation. Together, the trio created a unified presence that referenced their KPop Demon Hunters characters while celebrating individual designer voices.
Zara Larsson’s solar yellow Germanier breaking the binary
Zara Larsson in custom Germanier providing colour contrast at Grammys 2026 (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
In a sea of monochrome, Zara Larsson blazed in custom Germanier’s sequins. Her sunny yellow bra top and maxi skirt proved that bold colour could hold its own against the evening’s dramatic black-and-white narrative.
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