<p>Sheer red, feathered couture, punk tailoring, and a little bridalwear. These were the looks that had us looking twice at the 2026 MTV VMAs.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The <strong>MTV Video Music Awards </strong>(VMA)s have always been a little less interested in playing by the rules. This year’s red carpet was no different. There were gowns dripping in crystals, plenty of black, unexpected silhouettes, and just enough chaos to make things interesting. Some looks went full glamour, while others seemed to ask why an awards-show outfit has to look like one at all.</p>
<p dir="ltr">From Lisa’s head-turning red moment to Troye Sivan’s feathered Erdem look, these are the stars who gave the 2026 VMAs carpet something to talk about.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Taylor Swift</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Taylor Swift went for something a little more sculptural in <strong>Tamara Ralph</strong>. Her gown paired a fitted black top with a dramatic silver skirt that gave the whole look an almost statuesque quality. <strong>Le Silla</strong> shoes and jewelry from <strong>Leviev, Anita Ko, Forever Diamonds, and Etho Maria</strong> completed the look without competing with its statement silhouette.</p>

<h3><strong>Lisa</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Lisa arrived in a red <strong>The Attico</strong> dress that was hard to miss. The sheer, body-hugging number came topped with a fuzzy <strong>Quine Li</strong> coat casually draped over her shoulders, giving the look a dose of texture without taking away from the dress. Her high ponytail kept things sleek, letting the vivid red do most of the work.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Charli XCX</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Charli XCX kept things dark in <strong>Saint Laurent</strong>, wearing a black velvet set with an ultra-low-rise skirt and cropped, balloon-sleeved top. The look came straight from Anthony Vaccarello’s Fall 2017 collection, giving it a distinctly Saint Laurent kind of sexiness. It was stripped back compared to some of the night’s bigger gowns, but no less memorable.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Troye Sivan</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Troye Sivan made the case for dressing up and having fun with it in <strong>Erdem</strong>. A sharply tailored jacket met a full feathered skirt, creating a silhouette that felt part period drama, part fashion fantasy. It was an unexpected pairing, but that is exactly what made it work.</p>

Troye Sivan at the 2026 VMAs. Getty Images.

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>RAYE</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">RAYE arrived looking like she had stepped straight into a glamorous dream. Her <strong>Georges Hobeika Couture</strong> gown was covered in glittering embellishment and teardrop pearls, all set against a sheer base that let the intricate detailing take center stage. The result was unapologetically glamorous, with enough sparkle to make the VMAs feel like an old Hollywood night out.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Sombr</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Sombr brought some much-needed punk energy to the carpet in a <strong>custom ERL Fall 2026</strong> look. Rather than leaning into the usual awards-show polish, the musician went for something rougher around the edges, with the kind of attitude that feels right at a rock show. It was a reminder that red-carpet dressing does not always have to mean a perfectly pressed suit.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Teyana Taylor</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Teyana Taylor went all in on feathers and lace in <strong>Zuhair Murad Couture</strong>. The sheer black gown featured intricate lace, a plunging neckline, and feathered details that extended from the shoulders down to the hem. There was a lot happening, but the look never lost its sense of drama.</p>

<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Stella Lefty</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Stella Lefty took the road less expected in a wedding dress from <strong>Claire Pettibone’s Fall 2015 bridal collection</strong>. The romantic gown felt almost deliberately out of place among the evening’s sequins, feathers, and skin-baring looks, which was precisely the appeal. It was sweet, slightly surreal, and a welcome change of pace on the carpet.</p>

The Best Dressed Celebrities at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards

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