The 2026 Oscar nominees for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role aren’t new to the Academy Awards red carpet. Indeed, Kate Hudson, Emma Stone and Jessie Buckley are all previous Oscar nominees, with Renate Reinsve and Rose Byrne earning their first nods for 2026’s ceremony on March 15.
Before the golden statuette is officially handed out, WWD looks back at the designer fashion by Vivienne Westwood, Erdem and other prominent couturiers and fashion houses worn by this year’s best actress nominees at their very first Academy Awards red carpet.
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Kate Hudson
At the 2001 Oscars, Hudson wore a Chloé dress by then-creative director Stella McCartney. The look evoked a bohemian style sensibility with added sparkle and flair — an upgraded iteration of Penny Lane’s costumes in “Almost Famous,” the role for which Hudson earned her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. The “Song Sung Blue” Oscar nominee’s 2001 glam evoked her famous mom, Goldie Hawn, with hair by Robert Vetica of Cloutier.
Rose Byrne
In February 2012, Byrne attended her first Oscars in a custom black sequined, one-shoulder gown designed by Vivienne Westwood. The Australian actress, nominated for her performance in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” styled a formfitting dress with sleek, shimmering sensibility and all over with sequins sewn into the fabric. Byrne wore peep-toe heels and accessorized with statement earrings, ring and bracelet. Her hair was coiffed in a bob with fringe to frame her face.
Emma Stone
Stone, nominated for her performance in “Bugonia,” also made her Oscars debut in 2012, the same year as Byrne, in a Giambattista Valli gown from the label’s spring 2012 couture collection. The sleeveless dress featured a flowing skirt and a cinched waist for added silhouette definition. A voluminous bow at the neckline evoked Nicole Kidman’s Balenciaga gown from the 2007 Oscars.
Renate Reinsve
Reinsve turned to Louis Vuitton’s spring 2022 collection at the 2022 Oscars. The “Sentimental Value” Oscar nominee’s look channeled an updated variation on the 1920s flapper. The dress featured a loose silhouette and sleeveless design with black and white delicate lacy embroidery throughout.
Jessie Buckley
At her first Oscars in March 2022, “Hamnet” star Jessie Buckley wore a gown by London-based designer Erdem Moralıoğlu. The sleeveless blush gown was designed with a plunging neckline and long train that trailed the actress, nominated in 2022 for her supporting role in “The Lost Daughter.”
The 2026 Academy Awards honor the best films of 2025, from “One Battle After Another” to “Hamnet” and more. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, who returns for a second consecutive year as master of ceremonies, the awards show takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “Sinners” leads the night’s nominations, with a record-setting 16 nods, including Best Picture. The 2026 Oscars begin at 7 p.m. E.T. on ABC and Hulu.