The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet in Los Angeles saw musicians and actors favor unconventional styles over traditional formal attire.
Custom outerwear, leather, and sheer designs dominated the arrivals.
Taylor Swift was the final guest to arrive, wearing a black-and-silver ensemble with a fitted halter bodice and a draped skirt.
During the event, Swift was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors award.
Leather, Gothic, and Metallic Statements
Musicians Olandria and Ciara Miller both chose Western-themed outfits in leather.
Miller wore a cropped leather top with lace-up pants, while Olandria arrived in a floor-length leather gown with lacing detail.
Charli xcx went gothic with a cropped black velvet top paired with a long skirt.
Sombr appeared in an oversized black-and-white striped faux fur coat, accessorized with leather pants and an oversized belt buckle.
Sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton coordinated in metallic dresses.
Paris Hilton wore a draped mini dress with thigh-high boots, while Nicky Hilton selected a slinky floor-length gown.
Lisa arrived in a monochromatic sheer red corseted dress with a matching fur-like wrap and a long train.
Breakout actor Stella Lefty chose an ivory lace gown with delicate beaded embellishments.
Actors Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli, stars of the series Off Campus, made a joint appearance.
Bright wore a fitted black dress, while Cameli selected an all-denim suit, with both matching in sunglasses.
Singer Slayyyter chose a nude gown with frayed fabric layers and sheer panels.
Normani wore a metallic sculptural bodice that transitioned into a pleated black skirt.
Adam Lambert appeared in a black satin robe featuring a raised headpiece spelling out the title of his upcoming project.
