Actor Awards 2026 best dressed: Kristen Bell sizzles alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Stone and Demi Moore as they lead glamour on the red carpet

Hollywood’s biggest stars descended upon the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles on Sunday for the 32nd Annual Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards.

The show’s host, Kristen Bell, made a breathtaking arrival in a racy Georges Hobeika couture gown featuring a daring neckline. 

She flaunted her enviable physique in the sheer look, which was encrusted with sparkling crystals and appeared to be worn sans undergarments.

Gwyneth Paltrow stunned in a plunging black lace Givenchy gown that shimmered throughout.

Emma Stone was a bright vision in a metallic floor-length lilac Louis Vuitton dress. 

Demi Moore dazzled in a column-style couture Schiaparelli gown with a theatrical bustle made of frothy white tulle ruffles. 

Teyana Taylor commanded attention in a Thom Browne gown with a swirling patchwork design.

Kate Hudson appeared ethereal in a cream gown by Valentino, which featured flowing caped sleeves and a midriff cut-out.

Michelle Williams looked captivating in a delicate pink pastel dress by Prada. 

Hamnet star Jessie Buckley cut a poised figure in a classy black and white gown.

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega wore a sultry white silk Christian Cowan dress with a plunging neckline and lace details.

The dress featured rebel-chic detailing, with strategically placed rips.

Dove Cameron kicked off the red carpet in a stunning corset-style black and white Monique Lhuillier dress. 

The starlet cranked up the gothic glamour, pairing a black lip with a dazzling diamond necklace. She added height to the ensemble with strappy white heels. 

Claire Danes cut a sophisticated figure in a floor-length black gown with a bedazzled white collar. 

Marty Supreme star Odessa A’zion was the ultimate trendsetter in a fringe jumpsuit with a plunging neckline. 

Frankenstein star Mia Goth looked sensational in a black lace Dior dress with a pink slip underneath. 

Sarah Pidgeon, who currently stars as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in the new FX/Hulu series Love Story, made a fashion statement in a light pink Balenciaga gown with a voluminous bubble hem. 

One Battle After Another star Chase Infiniti had all eyes on her in a glittering nude floor-length mermaid gown. 

Sofia Carson stole the spotlight in a daringly theatrical gown by Elie Saab. 

Rose Byrne shimmered in a white Chanel dress with silver embellishments. 

The Bear star Abby Elliott brought a touch of Old Hollywood decadence to the event, dazzling in a gold-fringed number. The actress was joined by husband Bill Kennedy.

The White Lotus star Sarah Catherine Hook wore a bold plum Balenciaga gown with grey opera gloves. While on the red carpet she posed with her White Lotus co-star Sam Nivola.

Zanna Roberts Rassi was a vision in a bright pink McQueen gown, while Tiffany Taylor wowed in a strapless gold dress that showcased her toned arms.

Paige DeSorbo was every inch the golden girl in a Marmar Halim sleeveless gown. 

Keltie Knight arrived in a white look with silver and gold embellishments. 

Hannah Kosh looked sensational in a cream silk dress. 

The Pitt star Patrick Ball pushed the fashion boundaries, pairing a black blazer and tie with a pleated black kilt.  

Adam Brody added a touch of color to his black suit with a bright yellow button up shirt. 

The ceremony officially rebranded as The Actor Awards this year, a move designed to align the show with its iconic statuette ‘The Actor’, sharpen its global identity and keep the spotlight squarely on performers honoring their peers. 

Bell returns as host for the third time, having previously emceed in 2018 and 2025.

‘Having Kristen return to host feels like welcoming back a member of the family. One you actually want to hang out with,’ show-runner and executive producer Jon Brockett said in a statement. 

Streaming live on Netflix, the ceremony will hand out honors across 28 categories spanning film, television and limited series, with six nominees in each race except Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, which features eight contenders.

On the film side, One Battle After Another leads the pack with seven nominations, followed closely by Sinners with five. 

The race for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role is stacked with Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, and Jesse Plemons for Bugonia.

The Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role category is equally competitive, featuring Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue and Emma Stone for Bugonia.

In supporting categories, Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn both scored nominations for One Battle After Another, while Jacob Elordi earned recognition for Frankenstein, Paul Mescal for Hamnet, and Miles Caton for Sinners in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role race. 

The Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role lineup includes Odessa A’Zion for Marty Supreme, Ariana Grande for Wicked: For Good, Amy Madigan for Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, and Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another – a mix of seasoned veterans and exciting newcomers.

The Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category brings ensemble firepower from Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another and Sinners, underscoring just how actor-driven this awards body remains.

Television, meanwhile, has its own battleground.

On the comedy front, The Studio dominated with five nominations, cementing its status as an actors’ favorite. 

It will compete for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series alongside Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks and Only Murders in the Building.

Individual comedy acting races feature names like Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara and Seth Rogen from The Studio, Jean Smart for Hacks, Jenna Ortega for Wednesday, Adam Brody for Nobody Wants This, Ted Danson for A Man on the Inside and Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building.

Drama is just as intense. The White Lotus, Severance, The Diplomat, The Pitt and Landman are all nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. 

Acting nods in the drama categories went to performers including Britt Lower, Parker Posey, Keri Russell, Rhea Seehorn, Aimee Lou Wood, Sterling K. Brown, Billy Crudup, Walton Goggins, Gary Oldman and Noah Wyle.

Limited series and television movies continue to prove their awards muscle.

Nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series include Claire Danes for The Beast in Me, Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco for Adolescence, Sarah Snook for All Her Fault and Michelle Williams for Dying for Sex. 

On the male side, Jason Bateman for Black Rabbit, Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham for Adolescence, Charlie Hunnam for Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Matthew Rhys for The Beast in Me are all in contention.

Yet no awards season is complete without a little controversy. 

One of the most talked-about snubs was Cynthia Erivo, who many expected to be nominated for Wicked: For Good but was left off the list. 

Fans also pointed to the absence of Gwyneth Paltrow and Dwayne Johnson, while others questioned the limited international representation among acting nominees. 

Additional omissions, including Sentimental Value on the film side and Death by Lightning in television, fueled further chatter.

Still, there were pleasant surprises that delighted fans, including supporting nominations for Odessa A’Zion (Marty Supreme) and Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), highlighting the breadth of this year’s roster.

Adding gravitas to the evening, Hollywood legend Harrison Ford will receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award.  

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Ford has anchored some of the biggest franchises in film history, from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to Blade Runner and The Fugitive, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable and enduring leading men. 

‘I am deeply honored to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award,’ Ford said. 

‘To be acknowledged by my fellow actors means a great deal to me. I’ve spent most of my life on film sets, working alongside incredible actors and crews, and I’ve always felt grateful to be part of this community.’

And helping represent the next generation is Bridgerton breakout Yerin Ha, who has been tapped as this year’s Ambassador for The Actor Awards. 

‘Being named The Actor Awards Ambassador is such an honor because this ceremony is about actors celebrating actors,’ Ha said. 

‘There is something uniquely powerful about being recognized within your own community. As someone who cares so deeply about the craft and about collaboration, it means so much to represent the next generation of actors and be part of an event that uplifts storytelling.’