Saturday, Oct 17 · Los Angeles

Academy Museum
Gala 2026

The night nicknamed the “Met Gala of the West Coast”: three honorees, a closing set from Taylor Swift, and a red carpet WWD read as 1950s Hollywood in pastel.

When: Saturday, Oct 17, 2026 — the sixth annual gala
Where: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles
Raised: Over $14 million, in partnership with Rolex
Co-chairs: Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw

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Taylor Swift at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala. — Taylor Swift at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala. Photo: David Fisher/Shutterstock via W Magazine.

The night

The biggest moments

Frazer Harrison/WireImage
The headliner
Taylor Swift closes the night
Introduced by Conan O’Brien, she sang “Blank Space,” “Love Story,” “The Fate of Ophelia” and “I Knew It, I Knew You,” from Toy Story 5.
The Hollywood Reporter
Michael Buckner/WWD/Getty Images
The theme
Horror on the red carpet
Guests posed against a backdrop for the museum’s new exhibition, The Horror Show. Honoree John Carpenter was the first to arrive.
The Hollywood Reporter
David Fisher/Shutterstock
The finale
The Kardashian-Jenners close the carpet
By tradition, they arrive last. Jacob Elordi filmed Kendall Jenner on his phone before stepping in for his own photos.
The Hollywood Reporter
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
The archive
Kim Kardashian in vintage Balenciaga
One of the night’s vintage moments — WWD likened the look to Jackie O.
WWD via Yahoo

The awards

The honorees

David Fisher/Shutterstock
Icon Award
Charlize Theron
Presented by Sigourney Weaver
Sheer black Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, with Boucheron jewels.
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Vantage Award
Colman Domingo
Presented by Judd Apatow and Tom Ford
A custom beaded Valentino jacket, tuxedo trousers and an undone bow tie.
Emma McIntyre/Oscars/Getty Images for Academy Museum Foundation
Luminary Award
John Carpenter
Presented by Jamie Lee Curtis and Robert Rodriguez
His honour was tied to The Horror Show, the museum’s new exhibition.

24 looks · 5 themes

The red carpet

Old Hollywood, in pastel

WWD saw the carpet lean into 1950s Hollywood glamour, with pastels as one of the night’s defining trends.

David Fisher/Shutterstock
Taylor Swift
Dior, channelling the Hitchcock glamour of To Catch a Thief
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Gemma Chan
Pink Prada, in the shade of Gwyneth Paltrow’s 1999 Oscars gown
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Alexa Demie
Light green Chanel
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Kate Hudson
Custom blush Armani Privé, with ’40s-inspired hair
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Hailey Bieber
A baby-pink Chanel column
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Emily Bader
A baby-pink Armani column
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Cailee Spaeny
Fuchsia Valentino with a pink pleated train

Sculpture and volume

Bustle called the peplums “architectural marvels”; THR singled out the volume of the night’s couture.

David Fisher/Shutterstock
Chase Infiniti
Louis Vuitton with an exaggerated pleated peplum
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Sophie Thatcher
Gilded Louis Vuitton with Art Deco flares
Amy Sussman/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Naomi Ackie
Aubergine Balenciaga with a bubble bodice — and pockets
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Inde Navarrette
Schiaparelli couture with a polka-dot bubble skirt
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Rhea Seehorn
Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga couture tuxedo

Florals and butterflies

Bustle’s other big trend: 3D blooms and couture butterflies.

David Fisher/Shutterstock
Teyana Taylor
Schiaparelli: a blue breastplate and floral appliqués
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Greta Lee
Beaded Dior with a pom-pom flower on the hip
Getty Images
Sofia Vergara
Purple blooms along an asymmetric neckline
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Elle Fanning
Custom Valentino with a butterfly-shaped bodice
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Janelle Monáe
Robert Wun couture with cobalt wings
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Amandla Stenberg
Zimmermann covered in butterflies

Vintage, archive and firsts

WWD noted vintage choices that showed how insider-driven the carpet has become.

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Kim Kardashian
Vintage Balenciaga — WWD likened it to Jackie O
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Odessa A'zion
Archival Giorgio Armani
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Elizabeth Debicki
Antonin Tron’s first Hollywood carpet for Balmain

A sea of black

THR’s phrase for the night’s other palette.

David Fisher/Shutterstock
Charlize Theron
Sheer Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, Boucheron jewels
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Anna Kendrick
Georges Chakra couture, flared at the hips
David Fisher/Shutterstock
Mia Goth
Dior with a 1970s ease and bias-cut sleeves

Photos: Shutterstock via W Magazine; Getty Images via The Hollywood Reporter — credited on each image.