Academy Museum Gala 2026: who wore what, and the brands that dressed the most stars

Out of 127 guests on W's list (October 18, 2026):

• Giorgio Armani: 14 (including Armani Privé and Emporio Armani)
• Louis Vuitton: 11
• Chanel: 8
• Prada: 7
• Dior: 7
• Saint Laurent: 5
• Valentino: 5

Armani Privé was the couture pick: Sabrina Carpenter, Kate Hudson, Emma Chamberlain and Monica Barbaro all wore it.

• Tiffany & Co.: 14 (Amanda Seyfried, Rosé, Kylie Minogue, Jessica Alba, Adria Arjona and more)
• Cartier: 10 (Kendall Jenner, Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, Gemma Chan, Jacob Elordi)
• Chopard: 9 (Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Demi Moore, Hunter Schafer, Jessica Biel)
• Boucheron: 6 (Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo, Kerry Washington)

Those 4 brands covered 39 of the 46 jewelry credits.

• Taylor Swift: two looks. She arrived in Dior by Jonathan Anderson in a washed blue with Chopard jewelry, then changed into a sheer navy Ralph Lauren gown to perform, her first time performing at the gala.
• Hailey Bieber: Chanel
• Kendall Jenner: custom Valentino, black and white polka dots, Panthère de Cartier jewelry
• Sabrina Carpenter: custom Giorgio Armani Privé in cobalt, Chopard earrings
• Sofia Richie Grainge: an archival Versace dress from Spring 2001, with her Stephanie Gottlieb emerald ring
• Emily Ratajkowski: a red Burc Akyol gown
• Rosé: Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, Tiffany & Co.

• Black everywhere. The Hollywood Reporter called it a sea of black gowns.
• Feathers. Jessica Biel's Tamara Ralph couture had feathers framing her face, with a high slit.
• Mid-calf instead of floor-length. Costume designer Miyako Bellizzi wore Matthieu Blazy's Fall 2026 Chanel: sequined bouclé tweed, 1920s shape.
• Sapphire blue, a Fall 2026 color, on Sabrina Carpenter's Armani Privé.
• Volume. Rhea Seehorn and Naomi Ackie both wore Pierpaolo Piccioli's Balenciaga couture. Ackie's aubergine taffeta gown had pockets.

• Cailee Spaeny: Valentino by Alessandro Michele, fuchsia silk with a pink pleated train, from the Spring 2027 show on October 4
• Inde Navarrette: Schiaparelli Fall 2026 couture by Daniel Roseberry, nude tulle with polka dots, Chopard diamonds
• Anna Kendrick: Georges Chakra couture, a deep-V black guipure lace gown
• Gemma Chan: pink Prada with a front cutout, Cartier Agrafe earrings
• Kate Hudson: blush Armani Privé with a crystal ruffle, Harry Winston diamonds
• Mia Goth: a 1970s-feeling Dior gown with Dior fine jewelry and bag
• Rhea Seehorn: a Balenciaga couture tuxedo, Englebert jewelry
• Colman Domingo: a custom beaded Valentino jacket, Boucheron jewels, an Omega watch
• Rufus Sewell: head-to-toe Dunhill in brown velvet, an IWC Portugieser
• Charles Melton: an ERL tailcoat by Eli Russell Linnetz

• Kim Kardashian: a dress from Cristóbal Balenciaga's 1951 collection, 75 years old, found at Lily et Cie in LA. Leviev's Carmen necklace (55.8 carats) and Zydo earrings (10.2 carats). Stylist Law Roach went for an Elizabeth Taylor look
• Odessa A'zion: archival Giorgio Armani
• Olivia Munn: vintage Bob Mackie
• Sofia Richie Grainge: Versace, Spring 2001
• Camila Cabello: Dolce & Gabbana, Spring 1998

A new custom gown is the default here. Pulling a decades-old piece is how you stand out.

Ana de Armas, Chloë Grace Moretz, Emmy Rossum and Chase Infiniti all wore Louis Vuitton, and several matched LV jewelry or a Petite Malle bag to the dress.

Charlize Theron (Icon Award) wore Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann with Boucheron. Colman Domingo (Vantage Award) wore Valentino with Boucheron. John Carpenter received the Luminary Award. Rolex was the presenting sponsor.

Nobody is buying an Armani Privé gown. But the houses on this list all sell lip and fragrance at the beauty counter. These are not what anyone wore on the carpet, just the easiest way into the same brands.

• One house, head to toe: dress, jewelry, bag
• Or pull vintage: a decades-old piece beats a new one
• Jewelry from one of the big four: Tiffany, Cartier, Chopard, Boucheron
• Wearing an engagement ring? Let it be the only ring