The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony captivated audiences not only with cinematic achievements but also with an extraordinary display of haute joaillerie. Departing from recent minimalist trends, Hollywood's elite graced the red carpet with an abundance of glittering diamonds, vibrant gemstones, and intricate designs. This year's event marked a notable resurgence of bold and expressive adornments, transforming traditional red carpet glamour into a dazzling spectacle of personal style and exquisite craftsmanship.
Celebrities Illuminate the Oscars 2026 Red Carpet with Exquisite Adornments
On the evening of March 16, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the Academy Awards red carpet was awash with an unprecedented exhibition of high-end jewelry. While the initial expectation leaned towards continued minimalist aesthetics, several luminaries chose to make powerful statements through their dazzling accessories.
Among the gentlemen, Adrien Brody, last year's Best Actor recipient for 'The Brutalist', showcased a unique piece named 'Ulysses' from artist Elsa Jin. This titanium brooch, adorned with a 20.05-carat sapphire and 1,279 diamonds totaling 125.84 carats, complemented his Gucci tuxedo, continuing his tradition of sporting Jin's modern creations.
Elle Fanning, drawing inspiration from the wisteria around her childhood home in Conyers, Georgia, wore a custom Givenchy gown by Sarah Burton. Her ensemble was exquisitely paired with a 1903 Cartier necklace, echoing wisteria leaves, crafted from old round-cut diamonds set in platinum, a transformable design from the esteemed jewelry house's archives.
Shaboozey made a striking debut at the Oscars, accentuating his Campillo outfit with a vintage Briony Raymond diamond brooch and a Chopard watch. His most talked-about accessory was a Mikimoto tassel necklace, cleverly styled as a waist sash, featuring Akoya and Golden South Sea cultured pearls, diamonds, and 18-karat white gold, retailing at $35,000.
Rose Byrne stunned in a Dior gown, accessorized with a Taffin sculptural torque necklace. This piece featured a remarkable 22.58-carat fancy yellow-brown pear-shaped diamond from Botswana, known as a Desert diamond, part of De Beers London's initiative to highlight natural diamonds. She also wore a Taffin ring with a 16.54-carat Ashoka-cut diamond set in blue ceramic and rose gold.
Teyana Taylor, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for 'One Battle After Another', continued her high-style streak in a feather-embellished Chanel gown and Tiffany & Co. diamonds. Her 'Shooting Star' necklace from the 'Tiffany Céleste' collection, a Jean Schlumberger design, boasted almost 60 carats of diamonds, including an 18-carat center stone convertible into a ring.
Chase Infiniti's lavender Louis Vuitton gown was perfectly complemented by a De Beers London 'Summer' diamond choker from their Metamorphosis collection, featuring 57.15 carats of white and yellow diamonds in gold.
Damson Idris of 'F1' fame sported a navy double satin evening jacket, highlighting a bespoke brooch from his own 'Didris' collection. Designed in London, this unique piece featured a 7.41-carat heat-treated marquise blue diamond, surrounded by other diamonds, set in 18-karat gold, alongside matching rings.
Zoe Saldaña's Saint Laurent gown provided a flawless backdrop for her Cartier high-jewelry necklace. This piece from the 'En Équilibre Chapter III' collection, unveiled in Paris, featured rubies and diamonds set in platinum.
Michael B. Jordan also reimagined a David Yurman necklace as a watch chain for his custom Louis Vuitton suit, specifically the 41-inch 'DY Mercer Double Row Toggle Chain Necklace', adorned with diamonds and yellow gold. He also innovatively placed a brooch on the back of his jacket collar.
Though not on the red carpet, Zendaya's look included a diamond-embellished Rolex Lady-Datejust and Cindy Chao's 'Diamond Branch' earrings from her White Label Collection, set with 84 diamonds totaling 30.22 carats in titanium, white and yellow gold, and lacquer.
Kate Hawley, winning Best Costume Design for 'Frankenstein', chose three Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. brooches from the house's archives, dating from 1952 to 1970, which had also featured in her award-winning film.
Finally, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, a global ambassador for Bulgari, debuted the 'Serpenti Illusio' high-jewelry necklace from the upcoming Eclettica collection. Her Dior gown was paired with this magnificent piece featuring a 14.01-carat antique cushion-cut sapphire, pavé-set diamonds, emeralds, and onyx, requiring over 1,300 hours of craftsmanship.
The 2026 Oscars truly celebrated the artistry of jewelry, reminding us that these precious objects are not merely accessories but integral components of a star's persona, telling stories and making statements on one of the world's most watched stages. The ingenuity in styling, from repurposed necklaces to bespoke brooches, highlights a growing trend towards personalized and distinctive adornment in high fashion. This year's showcase firmly established jewelry as a central element of red carpet fashion, inspiring both industry insiders and enthusiasts alike with its breathtaking beauty and innovative design.
