The biggest names in music gathered Sunday night for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
The 2026 ceremony also marked the VMAs’ return to the West Coast after a nine-year absence. The awards were last televised from Los Angeles in 2017.
This year’s glamorous event took place at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre, a venue that recently hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Madonna, Taylor Swift and Paris Hilton were among the high-profile stars seen at the celebration.
Before the show began, celebrities filled the red carpet in a parade of elaborate looks featuring dramatic trains, sumptuous fabrics and bold styling choices.
Still, several outfits struggled to make the right impression beneath the intense fashion spotlight.
A number of stars instead found themselves on the wrong side of the evening’s style conversation.
Here is a look at the celebrities whose MTV Video Music Awards red-carpet outfits drew the most scrutiny.
Beloved Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna, 63, took an unconventional approach in an all-white look featuring a plunging molded breastplate and a flowing skirt with a daring thigh-high split.
Hitmaker Adam Lambert, 44, embraced a mysterious gothic aesthetic in an oversized black cloak and dramatic headpiece, completing the outfit with dark eye makeup and black-painted nails.
Singer Tyla, 24, departed from her usual style in a blue snakeskin-print skirt-and-bra set, pairing it with a matching choker and pointed-toe heels.
Filipino-American singer Bella Poarch, 29, left fans puzzled with a mismatched look that appeared to combine lace, ribbon and other materials across a tightly fitted corset.
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Singer-songwriter Sombr, 21, also bared his chest in leather pants and an oversized striped fur coat. A collection of drooping necklaces and a belt emblazoned with the word “sex” completed the outfit.
Turkish rapper and singer Inji, 25, appeared uneasy in a brown crocodile-leather-inspired trench coat and matching shorts, finished with purple platform heels.
Content creator Ashton Ray, 23, made an unmistakable entrance by arriving topless in white baggy trousers, a sweeping train and an oversized fur-style coat.
Blackpink star Lisa, 29, was nearly overwhelmed by a dramatic red puffball cape with a train, worn over a sheer mesh dress in the same vivid shade.
Podcast host and social media personality Brooke Schofield, 29, opted for a revealing beige one-piece by Nicola Bacchilega. The design featured a ribbed sheer corset and an abundance of skirt fabric that offered a glimpse of her underwear.
British singer-songwriter Meek, 32, appeared swathed in a white tulle puffball dress, styling it with monochrome gladiator-inspired heels and black leather gloves.
South Korean star Rei Ami, 31, risked a wardrobe mishap in a daring black macramé-style sheer outfit woven into an intricate star-shaped pattern.
Actress Rachel Dratch, 60, wore a bust-enhancing gray dress with an asymmetric hem and light-catching draped overlay. She completed the look with a bolero and block heels that appeared ill-fitting.
Singer-songwriter Haiden Henderson, 25, arrived in a chaotic ensemble that featured mismatched pointed-toe boots, tight leather trousers complete with metallic studs, a denim jacket that flashed his midriff and a bold red cape
Internet sensation Savannah Demers, 26, looked a little washed-out by her $1,880 halter mini by Ema Savahl which boasted dimensional flowers in full bloom and flowing skirt
TikTok star Jessica Golich, 37, showcased her bold sense of style on the VMA red carpet as she arrvied in a range of clashing colors and patterns – from leopard print pants to silver glitter platform boots
