The Best Golden Globes Dresses of 2026
The Golden Globes open awards season, so the red carpet tends to set the mood for the months that follow. The 2026 ceremony took place on January 11 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, and the strongest dresses fell into four groups: sheer florals, black with texture, metallic shine and soft pastels. These are the looks that stood out and the reasons they worked.
Sheer, with flowers doing the work
The near-naked dress was the most visible trend of the night, and Jennifer Lawrence wore its most talked-about version. Her custom Givenchy by Sarah Burton was almost transparent, with blooms placed across the body and a matching shawl. It worked because the flowers were arranged carefully, so the gown looked romantic and well thought out rather than simply revealing.
Elle Fanning went softer in custom Gucci: a semi-sheer gown in pastel tones with a plunging neckline, scattered with small blue and purple floral embellishments. It fits the romantic, embroidered style she has built over years of red carpets.
Black, in several textures
Gothic black was another clear theme, and the best examples got their interest from texture rather than color. Jenna Ortega wore a black beaded gown by Dilara Findikoglu with fringed sleeves, a dark, dramatic choice that matched her image. Selena Gomez took a quieter route in a sleek black Chanel dress trimmed with feathers. The cut was simple, and the feathers gave it movement and depth in photographs.
What these looks share is a lesson for any black evening dress: when the color is plain, the fabric has to carry it. Beading, fringe and feathers catch the light in a way flat black crepe cannot.
Structure and corsetry
Several of the evening’s standouts were built rather than draped. Teyana Taylor wore custom Schiaparelli haute couture, a structured gown with sculptural cut-outs, paired with Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Ariana Grande chose Vivienne Westwood, whose corsetry was the focus of the dress. Both looks relied on a strong silhouette and kept the extras to a minimum.
Metallics and archive pieces
Sequins and metallic fabrics gave the carpet its shine. Kate Hudson wore a custom silver Armani Privé gown with statement draping, and Renate Reinsve chose a full-length metallic silver Louis Vuitton dress. Silver is a practical red-carpet choice: it reflects the flashbulbs and reads well on screen without needing much jewelry.
Vintage and archival fashion also had a moment. Jennifer Lopez wore a vintage Jean-Louis Scherrer gown with an ornate, baroque-style pattern and a fishtail hem. Choosing an older piece puts the focus on design history rather than on a new season’s runway.
Soft color: Emma Stone’s butter yellow
Among the pastels, Emma Stone’s Louis Vuitton was one of the most photographed. The two-piece paired a cropped, straight-neck satin top with a pale butter-yellow column skirt covered in beaded fringe. It tapped into butter yellow, one of the most visible colors of recent seasons, and the separates gave the look a modern, less formal feel than a traditional gown.
What the 2026 carpet tells us
Taken together, the best Golden Globes dresses of 2026 point to a few ideas worth borrowing for your own evening dressing:
- Sheer needs a plan. Embroidery or appliqué placed with intent keeps a transparent dress from looking unfinished.
- Black depends on texture. Feathers, beading and fringe make a simple cut photograph with depth.
- Separates can be formal. A top and skirt in the same color family, as Emma Stone showed, feel fresh without losing polish.
- Metallics do the accessorizing. A silver or sequined dress rarely needs more than one piece of jewelry.
The Globes remain one of the looser award-show carpets, and the range of these dresses, from gothic fringe to pale yellow, reflects that freedom.
