The 10 Looks That Saved the 2026 VMAs Red Carpet

Charli XCX, Teyana Taylor, and Lisa were highlights.

The VMAs have given us some of the most unhinged red-carpet moments in pop culture history. We’re talking Lady Gaga’s meat dress, Pamela Anderson’s huge pink fluffy hat and Lil Nas X’s feathered Harris Reed halo and matching skirt. This year? Mostly crickets. For an awards show built on spectacle, rebellion and absurd outfits, the carpet felt unusually bleak. Whatever happened to making a scene?

Luckily, a few stars remembered where they were. Charli XCX brought her signature edge in Saint Laurent and FOPE jewelry, Teyana Taylor gave us drama in Zuhair Murad couture and Sienna Spiro made an impressive VMAs debut in custom Valentino. Lisa refused to check her enormous Quine Li coat at the door, PinkPatheress raided the Nina Ricci archives and Tyla reminded everyone what dressing for the VMAs should look like, this time in Mowalola. The carpet may have been a snooze, but these 10 looks managed to keep us awake.

1. CHARLI XCX IN SAINT LAURENT AND FOPE

Charli proved that black didn’t need to mean boring in a sexy Saint Laurent top and matching skirt with FOPE jewelry.

2. SIENNA SPIRO IN CUSTOM VALENTINO, JIMMY CHOO, AND CHOPARD

Sienna Spiro made herself unforgettable in custom Valentino, Jimmy Choo heels and a dusting of Chopard diamonds – not bad for a VMAs debut.

3. SOMBR IN CUSTOM ERL

Sombr’s ERL look didn’t spare in details between the fur, leather pants and a belt buckle that said everything the rest of the carpet was too shy to.

4. LISA IN QUINE LI, THE ATTICO, AND RAINBOW K JEWELRY

Before debuting “SaWaDiKa” onstage, four-time nominee Lisa made her first entrance in a Quine Li coat layered over The Attico and Rainbow K jewelry.

5. TYLA IN MOWALOLA AND CHOPARD

Tyla stunned in the evening’s sexiest look by a mile: sleek, classic Mowalola (also fresh off the runway!) and topped off with plenty of Chopard sparkle, including transforming a watch into an anklet.

6. TROYE SIVAN IN ERDEM AND SPINELLI KILLCOLLIN

Fresh off the Erdem runway, Troye’s romantic look offered a stunning alternative to the night’s sea of suits.

7. PINK PANTHERESS IN VINTAGE NINA RICCI

With five nominations under her belt, PinkPatheress celebrated by pulling a sweet, vintage Nina Ricci look from the archives.

8. TEYANA TAYLOR IN ZUHAIR MURAD COUTURE

Leave it to Teyana to give a sleepy carpet a serious wake-up call in plunging, sheer Zuhair Murad couture.

9. SLAYYYTER

Best Dance nominee Slayyyter leaned into a darker kind of mermaid glamour with cascading blonde waves and a ruffled, asymmetrical gown.

10. SHABOOZEY IN CHROME HEARTS

Shaboozey left the cowboy at home and stepped into rock-star territory with a head-to-toe Chrome Hearts look.