The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards once again proved that the red carpet is no place for playing safe. Held on Sunday, 27 September, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, this year's VMAs brought together some of music's biggest names, with the fashion ranging from dramatic to sheer, sculptural and deliberately nostalgic.
The event has a long history of unconventional red-carpet dressing, and the 2026 arrivals continued that tradition. From Lisa's enormous red coat to Tyla's ultra-low-rise snakeskin look, several stars embraced the kind of statement-making fashion that has become synonymous with the VMAs.
Lisa Goes All In on Red
Lisa made one of the night's most immediately recognisable entrances in a head-to-toe red look. The BLACKPINK star wore a sheer, corset-style red dress from The Attico, paired with a dramatic faux-fur coat by Quine Li.
The oversized coat featured a sweeping train, creating a striking contrast with the fitted silhouette underneath. She completed the look with red pointed heels and a high updo, keeping the entire outfit within the same intense colour palette. The result was less about subtle styling and more about committing fully to one bold idea — something that fits naturally with the theatrical spirit of the VMAs.
Tyla Brings Back the Ultra-Low-Rise Look
Tyla also leaned into a deliberately attention-grabbing silhouette. The singer and presenter arrived in a blue snakeskin-effect bra and matching ultra-low-rise pencil skirt from Mowalola's Spring/Summer 2027 collection. The collection had only recently appeared at London Fashion Week, making the look a particularly fresh runway-to-red-carpet moment.
She paired the outfit with matching snakeskin accessories and Chopard jewellery, including a watch styled around her ankle. The look tapped into the ongoing return of low-rise fashion while giving it a distinctly 2026 VMAs treatment.
Charli XCX Takes a Darker Direction
Charli XCX went in a completely different direction, embracing dark, gothic-inspired fashion. The singer wore a black velvet Saint Laurent look based on an earlier Anthony Vaccarello collection. The outfit featured an ultra-low-rise column skirt and a cropped top with dramatic balloon sleeves and a mesh section across the chest.
Her styling also contributed to the darker mood, with her hair and overall presentation giving the outfit a distinctly autumnal feel. It was a reminder that a wild VMAs look does not necessarily need bright colours or elaborate embellishment.
Taylor Swift Makes Sparkle the Focus
Taylor Swift took a more polished approach to statement dressing in a Tamara Ralph couture gown. Her black dress featured an opaque bodice and a slightly sheer corset back, while the asymmetrical skirt was covered in rhinestones. Diamond jewellery and silver heels added further sparkle to the look.
Rather than relying on an unusual costume-like silhouette, Swift's look made its impact through contrast: a relatively restrained black upper half paired with a highly embellished skirt. The appearance also came during a significant night for Swift, who received the inaugural Artist Director Honors at the ceremony.
Raye and Chlöe Bailey Embrace the Sheer Trend
Sheer dressing remained a major theme on the 2026 VMAs red carpet. Raye wore a Georges Hobeika couture gown featuring a sheer, embellished design, a halter neckline and pearl-like teardrop details. The decoration gave the otherwise revealing silhouette a more ornate, eveningwear-focused finish.
Chlöe Bailey took a similarly embellished approach with a sheer gown from House of Idan. Its intricate mirror-like beadwork created a geometric pattern across the dress, giving the naked-dress trend a more decorative treatment.
Both looks showed how the sheer trend continues to evolve beyond simple transparent fabrics, with embellishment becoming an important part of the overall design.
Troye Sivan Goes Theatrical
Troye Sivan brought another kind of drama to the VMAs red carpet in an Erdem Spring/Summer 2027 look. The outfit combined tailoring with an unexpected feathered element, creating a look that blurred the line between traditional suiting and theatrical fashion.
The ensemble had already appeared on the runway during the Spring/Summer 2027 season, making Sivan's appearance another example of fresh runway fashion moving quickly onto the red carpet. It was a less obvious interpretation of 'wild' dressing, but the unusual proportions and feather detailing made the look stand apart.
Why the VMAs Still Invite Fashion Risks
What makes the VMAs red carpet different from many traditional awards ceremonies is the freedom celebrities have to experiment.
There is no single formula for what qualifies as a statement look. In 2026, that meant everything from Lisa's oversized red outerwear and Tyla's ultra-low-rise Mowalola set to Charli XCX's gothic-inspired Saint Laurent ensemble and Raye's embellished sheer gown.
The variety is arguably the biggest part of the appeal. Some stars went for glamour, others for nostalgia, while others leaned into theatrical silhouettes or revealing designs. And that is precisely why the VMAs continue to produce some of the most talked-about celebrity fashion moments of the year: the red carpet leaves plenty of room for stars to make the look their own.
For the 2026 ceremony, the result was a red carpet filled with bold choices, dramatic details and plenty of fashion risks — exactly the sort of wardrobe experimentation that the VMAs have become known for.
