Zendaya nearly had a wardrobe disaster on the 2026 Emmys red carpet, courtesy of Charlie Hunnam. The actor admitted he came close to stepping on her custom Prada gown as celebrities gathered outside the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live on Sept. 14 for the ceremony, hosted for the first time by Mariska Hargitay.
Hunnam told the story in an interview with Keltie Knight during Live From E!: 2026 Emmys, saying Zendaya "was being ushered at full speed" when he nearly collided with her dress. "Can you imagine? Devastating," he said. He added that his longtime love, Morgana McNelis, pulled him back just as Zendaya was rushing by.
Zendaya arrived at the ceremony in the running to become the first female performer to win an Emmy for every season of her show. The milestone was ultimately achieved instead by Jean Smart for Hacks.
Zendaya's Look and Tribute
Zendaya topped her gown with a newly cropped hairstyle. Her longtime stylist, Law Roach, who wore Givenchy himself, told E! that the look was "paying homage to another great African American beautiful actress." Zendaya accessorized with Mikimoto jewelry.
Ciara Miller Honors Whitney Houston
Ciara Miller, ahead of her debut on Dancing With the Stars, wore a dress that once belonged to Whitney Houston. "She wore this in 1993, 1994," Miller said during Live From E!: Countdown to the 2026 Emmys, identifying the gown as a Marc Bouwer design. She said it was a gift to her and was especially meaningful because her first dance on Dancing With the Stars will be to Houston's "Exhale."
More Red Carpet Moments
Your Friends & Neighbors star Aimee Carrero joked with E! about her two-piece David Koma outfit, saying, "The ventilation is good. And we're glad we got a wax."
Abbott Elementary's Janelle James, once again nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress, opted for a more covered-up vintage Roberto Cavalli look. "It's very just classy and classic," she told E!, "form-fitting and revealing in a way that's classy. That's what I always go for."
The Pitt's Big Night
Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa led the cast of The Pitt onto the carpet. The medical drama led all series with 25 nominations this year and had already picked up four awards at the Creative Arts Emmys.
DTF St. Louis star Joy Sunday, nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, wore custom Dior. "I am so excited," she told E!. "I feel like it really demonstrates where I am at this moment. I feel like the future is bright and I want to shine alongside it."
Best Dressed on the Red Carpet
Hargitay, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning and a long list of other stars rounded out the evening's fashion. Among the notable looks:
- Zendaya in custom Prada and Mikimoto jewelry
- Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. jewelry
- Ayo Edebiri in Chanel and Mikimoto jewelry
- Mariska Hargitay in Monse and Stuart Weitzman shoes
- Noah Wyle in custom Brunello Cucinelli and a Cartier watch
- Nicole Kidman in Chanel and an OMEGA watch
- Elle Fanning in Ralph Lauren and Cartier jewelry
- Dakota Fanning in Carolina Herrera and Swarovski jewelry
- Kristen Bell in Alberta Ferretti
- Shailene Woodley in Balenciaga
- Julia Garner in Loewe and Marco Bicego jewelry
- Florence Pugh in Vivienne Westwood
- Colman Domingo in custom Valentino and an OMEGA watch
- Kaley Cuoco in Christian Siriano and Tom Pelphrey in Giorgio Armani
- Julianne Hough in Antonio Grimaldi
- Sarah Pidgeon in Chanel
- Michael Urie in Christian Siriano and Azza Fahmy jewelry
- Allison Janney in Pamella Roland and Sabyasachi
- Emilia Clarke in Prada
- John Mulaney in Brunello Cucinelli and Olivia Munn in FFORME
- Michelle Pfeiffer in Saint Laurent
- Oscar Isaac in Celine
- Jessica Williams in Honor, with a Tyler Ellis bag and Jessica McCormack jewelry
- Harrison Ford in custom Paul Smith and Calista Flockhart in Zuhair Murad
- Sterling K. Brown in Brunello Cucinelli
- Ryan Michelle Bathe in Lia Stublia with Martin Katz jewelry
- Lisa Kudrow in Celine
- Paul Anthony Kelly in Louis Vuitton and a Vacheron Constantin watch
- Sally Field in Akris
- Chase Infiniti in Louis Vuitton and Hearts on Fire jewelry
