The best-dressed stars at the 2026 Emmys, from Zendaya’s pixie haircut to Keri Russell in leather - Toronto Star

The celebs pulled out all the glamour stops for TV's biggest night.

Zendaya arrives at the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026.

It’s the middle of September which means we’re in the throes of both the Toronto International Film Festival and New York Fashion Week. The Venice Film Festival just wrapped after 10 glamorous days, and the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are underway. Do we need to do a wellness check on celebrity stylists? And perhaps more pressingly, are there any gowns left north of the equator?

Impending dress shortage be damned, the style magicians behind the red carpet looks of Hollywood’s biggest names are on duty in Los Angeles, dressing fashion stars and nominees including Zendaya, Ayo Edebiri and Chase Infiniti whose work in “Euphoria,” “The Bear” and “The Testaments,” respectively, is being honoured.

If teetering on the edge of your seat is your thing, the shows dominating this year’s Emmys are right up your alley. “The Pitt,” Noah Wyle’s gritty hospital drama, leads the pack with 25 nominations, while Apple TV’s horror-comedy “Widow’s Bay” starring double nominee Matthew Rhys has the most nods for a freshman series with 19. Sci-fi thriller “Pluribus,” created by Vince Gilligan of “Breaking Bad” fame, trails right behind it with 18 nominations.

For some lighter fare, comedy darling “Hacks” is up for another 24 Emmys, which is a record for a comedy series. Plus, if its star Jean Smart wins the statue for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series tonight, she’ll tie the record for most acting Emmys by a single performer, an honour currently held by fellow comedy icons Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman.

But to settle the question of who won best-dressed on TV’s biggest night, here are the best-dressed celebrities at the 2026 Emmys.

Zendaya attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Zendaya made waves by debuting a fresh pixie cut at the Emmys. The style star walked the blue carpet in a custom Prada tulle gown completely encrusted with chunky crystals and silver sequins, but her jaw-dropping couldn’t compete with her chic cropped haircut that’s equal parts Jean Seberg French new wave and Whitney Houston ’90s diva. Zendaya, who is nominated for her turn as Rue on “Euphoria,” was both styled by and escorted down the carpet by her longtime collaborator, Law Roach.

Selena Gomez attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Selena Gomez hit the blue carpet in a look that seemed inspired by the Emmy statuette itself. The “Only Murders in the Building” actor looked every bit the Hollywood star in a Louis Vuitton strapless column gown completely covered in mirrored gold paillettes and accessorized with Tiffany & Co. diamonds. She balanced the glamorous look with fresh peach-hued makeup and her hair in soft, cascading waves. Gomez was nominated in 2024 for her work on the comedy series and on hand this year to support her colleagues — the series is up for another five awards.

Colman Domingo attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Double nominee Colman Domingo was one of the first big names on the red carpet and considering the stakes, the leading man looked relaxed as ever. He’s nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his turn in Netflix’s “The Four Seasons,” as well as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his scene-stealing role as Ali in HBO’s “Euphoria.” (Now that’s range.) Just as thrilling as his acting talent is his fashion sense, which never fails to delight: For the Emmys, Domingo skipped a tux in favour of a dapper terracotta jacket with mandarin collar and dove-grey trousers with a whisper of sheen. He accessorized the Valentino look with a shocking violet silk scarf tied around his waist, a pop of magenta peeking out of his collar and jazzy white shoes. In a sea of black tuxedos, why not be a Colman Domingo?

Keri Russell attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Felicity, who? Keri Russell stepped out in a head-to-toe leather look by New York cool-girl designer Khaite, which is just about as far from a starry-eye college girl as you can get. Russell is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in “The Diplomat”; her third consecutive year being recognized for her work in the political thriller. It’s actually the second time she’s bagged nods three years running — Russell was nominated for spy drama “The Americans” in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Her husband, Matthew Rhys, whom she met on the set of “The Americans,” is also in the running tonight: he has two two lead acting nominations for “Widow’s Bay” and “The Beast in Me.”

Elle Fanning attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Elle Fanning looked ready for Studio 54 in a pistachio-green lurex gown with an open back and long tasseled scarf detail by Ralph Lauren. The star of Margot’s Got Money Troubles, who is nominated for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in the Apple TV series, accessorized the slinky dress with jewels by Cartier. Fanning is quite the red carpet chameleon—who could forget the princess ballgown by Givenchy that she wore to the 2026 Oscars?

Mariska Hargitay attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Red is the colour of the evening with no less than eight stars showing up in crimson gowns, including Cailee Spaeny in bow-tied Miu Miu and Niecy Nash in a va-va-voom strapless number. The host of this year’s Emmys, Mariska Hargitay, was ravishing in a Monse scarlet sequinned mermaid gown with fun fringe detailing. Hargitay turned the carpet into a family affair, posing with her husband Peter Hermann and their three children, including daughter Amayah who wore a mini version of her mom’s gown. The “Law & Order” legend is no stranger to the Emmys stage: She has been nominated for and won multiple Emmys herself.

Carey Mulligan attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Carey Mulligan had the blues (visually speaking) on the Emmys carpet in a cerulean and white patterned column gown by The Row, an uncharacteristically vibrant dress from Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s typically minimalist brand, accessorized beautifully with simple white shoes and dainty diamond studs. Mulligan was celebrating her first Emmy nomination for her role in the second season of the Netflix series “Beef”; the celebrated actress has been nominated for three Oscars but has yet to win.

Chase Infiniti attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

It has been quite the year for relative newcomer Chase Infiniti, whose breakout role was in 2025’s awards season darling “One Battle After Another” alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. She walked the Emmys red carpet tonight as a nominee, up for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the “Handmaid’s Tale” spinoff “The Testaments.” For the occasion, Infiniti wore a fully beaded burgundy custom gown by Louis Vuitton (she’s an ambassador for the brand). She kept her accessories minimal, letting her 3D dress take centre stage.

Ayo Edebiri attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Ayo Edebiri is nominated for the fifth time for her performance as Sydney Adamu on the beloved restaurant-set series “The Bear”; she won in 2023. This year, she opted for a two-tone ruffled Chanel dress in cornflower blue and fire-engine-red, with a plunging v-neck and oversized bows. The look was accented by sleek silver sandals and dainty pearl earrings, lending a Baroque feel.

Sarah Michelle Gellar attends the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Come on Barbie, let’s go party! Sarah Michelle Gellar was a modern-day doll in a silk magenta gown and stacks of diamond rings for the 2026 Emmys. The iconic aughts actress reunited with her “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” co-star David Boreanaz to present an award and the pair also walked the red carpet together, ramping up excitement for Buffy’s 30th anniversary next year. Gellar wore her blonde hair in an elegant low ponytail that trailed down her boat-neck dress’s plunging open back.