As reported by Variety - THE RED CARPET BEGINS

LIVE FROM THE CARPET

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As Reported By Variety 

Oscars 2026: Red Carpet Fashion Turns the Dolby Theatre Into Hollywood’s Runway

HOLLYWOOD — Before a single Oscar is handed out, the real spectacle begins outside the Dolby Theatre.

The red carpet at the 98th Academy Awards once again served as Hollywood’s most glamorous runway, with actors, filmmakers, and presenters arriving in bold couture, classic tuxedos and a few looks designed to stop traffic. The annual ceremony, the culmination of awards season, remains one of the most influential fashion events in entertainment.

Stretching nearly 900 feet and assembled by hundreds of workers over weeks, the carpet itself has become almost as legendary as the awards ceremony it precedes.

Early Arrivals Set the Tone

Among the early arrivals was Ji-young Yoo, who stood out in a striking two-tone purple gown while greeting photographers and reporters lining the carpet. The actor, known for her voice role in “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” brought a splash of color to the afternoon’s opening wave of arrivals.

Veteran Oscar winner Marlee Matlin also stepped onto the carpet alongside her husband Kevin Grandalski, reminding the crowd of her historic 1987 Academy Award win for “Children of a Lesser God.”

Television host Mario Lopez waved to fans and photographers as he made his way through the press line, while actor and comedian Ken Jeong greeted cameras with his signature smile in a classic tuxedo.

Meanwhile, French-Tunisian producer Nadim Cheikhrouha drew attention for a different reason — wearing an Artists4Ceasefire pin, signaling support for a group of filmmakers advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Hollywood’s Biggest Night, Fashion’s Biggest Stage

If the Oscars are Hollywood’s biggest night, the red carpet is its most visible stage.

Every year, stylists and fashion houses compete for the spotlight, dressing nominees and presenters in looks designed to dominate headlines long before the ceremony begins. The tradition dates back decades, turning the Academy Awards into one of the most-watched fashion events in the world.

This year’s arrivals leaned heavily toward classic glamour — echoing a broader awards-season trend inspired by early Hollywood style from the 1920s and 1930s.

Nominees including Emma Stone, Jessie Buckley, Kate Hudson, Elle Fanning, Wunmi Mosaku, and Teyana Taylor were among the stars expected to deliver some of the evening’s most talked-about looks, while actors Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet, Delroy Lindo, and Jacob Elordi led the charge on the men's side of the carpet.

A Moment Before the Awards

Inside the Dolby Theatre, the ceremony will soon shift the focus back to cinema. But outside, the fashion parade offers its own form of storytelling — each gown, tuxedo, and accessory part of the spectacle that defines Oscar night.

For a few hours every year, Hollywood’s most powerful stars, rising talents and legendary icons gather on a single stretch of crimson carpet.

And before the envelopes are opened, that carpet tells the first story of the night.

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