Lights, camera, catastrophe.
Hollywood’s glitterati have come out in full force for the 2026 Oscars, dazzling in diamonds, couture, and showmanship—but while some stars shone, others brought looks that left us reaching for the nearest fire extinguisher.
Film stars, directors, and other Hollywood luminaries flocked to Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater for the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, ready to celebrate the finest cinema to hit screens over the last year, including top contenders such as Sinners, One Battle After Another, and Marty Supreme.
But even among the glitz, a few red carpet disasters managed to outshine the stars themselves.
Kevin O’Leary
The MAGA-friendly Shark Tank star, who made his acting debut in Marty Supreme, showed up to the Oscars looking like a cross between a Bond villain and his own boardroom caricature.
O’Leary’s tacky Mar-a-Lago–style bathrobe-suit collided spectacularly with his dull black pants, and he loudly reminded everyone that yes, he’s worth $400 million, adding a watch to each wrist and hanging a diamond-encrusted necklace holding his NBA trading cards. He pulled off a similar flex with his neck bling at the SAG Awards earlier in the month.
Lea Myren
The Norwegian star of the body horror film The Ugly Stepsister, nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, arrived with her own brand of terror: a rabid fur shawl crawling around a dress that looked like it had been put through a paper shredder.
Nikki Novak
Say no to the dress. Red carpet correspondent Nikki Novak knows her way around Hollywood ceremonies, but on Sunday she looked like a bride bolting from a Las Vegas chapel, with tacky layers of lace and tulle smothering the look in unnecessary volume.
Maggie O’Farrell
O’Farrell, whose 2020 novel served as the basis for Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, walked the red carpet in a shocking bright pink of cheap-looking fabric and random lace sleeves that turned what appeared to be an attempted Shakespearean nod into a fashion tragedy.
Danielle Brooks
The Color Purple star makes a bold statement with a dress that looks like a couture version of a Star Wars stormtrooper.
Amy Madigan
Nominated for her role in Weapons, this is a Dior outfit that has color and movement, but also looks a little bit like getting glammed up to hit the casino.
Hannah Beachler
The winner of the Best Production Design Oscar for Black Panther in 2019 is also up for an award for Sinners. This flapper-inspired outfit admittedly looks better in motion, but it is dangerously close to resembling an antique lamp.
Isabél Zuaa
The Portuguese performer looks she’s about to be hooked onto a trapeze and do some aerial work at the Oscars to liven up proceedings.
