It was the night’s hottest couple who stole the spotlight: Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner. The Critics' Choice Awards, held Monday in Los Angeles, marked the first major ceremony of the 2026 awards season, as stars shuttled between red carpets and the Palm Springs film festival currently underway.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s film "One Battle After Another" won best picture along with additional top-category awards, while Chalamet took home best actor for his role in the buzzy "Marty Supreme." It was his first Critics' Choice win after four previous nominations.
19 View gallery
Odessa A'zion, Josh Safdie, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner at the Critics' Choice Awards
(Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for FIJI Water)
Visibly emotional onstage in a tailored pinstripe suit, Chalamet thanked his partner of three years, who, like him, skipped the red carpet and went straight into the theater — a move associated with power couples such as Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Jenner wore a black vintage Versace gown. “I love you,” Chalamet said. “I couldn’t do this without you.”
Jenner smiled with her hands clasped beneath her chin and replied, “I love you.”
19 View gallery
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner
(Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for FIJI Water)
19 View gallery
Chalamet in a tailored pinstripe suit
(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Proof of the couple’s cultural imprint appeared even before the ceremony began, when "Hacks" stars Meg Stalter and Paul W. Downs arrived in matching orange leather outfits, referencing Chalamet and Jenner’s coordinated look at the Los Angeles premiere of "Marty Supreme" last month.
19 View gallery
A tribute to Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet: Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs
(Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake)
That was not the only homage of the evening. Host Chelsea Handler opened the ceremony with a tribute to actress Diane Keaton, who died last year. Handler took the stage in a tailored suit inspired by Keaton’s iconic style, a nod not only to the actress herself but also to her lasting influence on representations of femininity, fashion and cinema.
19 View gallery
Chelsea Handler in a tribute to Diane Keaton
(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
As for the red carpet, it was clear many stars are saving their most dramatic gowns for bigger ceremonies still to come, chief among them the Golden Globe Awards next Sunday. For now, the first red carpet of 2026 offered a preview — and not an especially promising one. Here is how the looks stacked up:
Ariana Grande wears Alberta Ferretti
The singer and actress kicked off awards season on the wrong foot. Grande chose a pink cape-style gown with an added tulle layer by Alberta Ferretti that resembled an oversized curtain and did little to flatter her petite frame. The pale color failed to elevate the look, resulting in a disappointment.
Natasha Lyonne wears Celine
This is how to do it right in 2026: bold, luminous and self-aware, with plenty of attitude. Lyonne wore a sparkling pantsuit with a clear nod to 1970s glamour.
19 View gallery
Natasha Lyonne wears Celine
(Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Britt Lower wears Bottega Veneta
Another sophisticated choice. Lower appeared in an intriguing Bottega Veneta ensemble featuring ivory silk pants topped with a white feathered dress and an open back.
Teyana Taylor wears Saint Laurent
Continuing the trend of red carpet experimentation, Taylor delivered a powerful runway-ready look from Saint Laurent, complete with the fashion house’s signature black thigh-high boots.
Elle Fanning wears Ralph Lauren
A safe yet sexy choice. Fanning wore a gold gown with a deep plunging neckline, balanced by the dress’s floor-length silhouette.
Rose Byrne wears Valentino
Was this a nod to carnivalesque 1980s fashion? Byrne wore a tiered black balloon dress by Alessandro Michele for Valentino that, in our view, did not go far enough. If you commit to high drama, why stop halfway?
Amanda Seyfried wears Valentino
If Byrne’s dress at least had structure, Seyfried’s lacked even that. The gown itself was beautiful, but several centimeters too long, creating a boxy silhouette that did not flatter her figure. More broadly, Michele’s aesthetic at Valentino is increasingly revealing itself as lacking libido, with customers voting with their feet — as reflected in the brand’s sales reports.
19 View gallery
Amanda Seyfried wears Valentino
(Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Chase Infiniti wears Louis Vuitton
Infiniti appears to be squeezing the last drops out of the buttery yellow trend. She wore a Louis Vuitton look featuring a maxi skirt and a draped top with an interesting texture.
Mia Goth wears Dior
The British actress, currently delivering a strong performance in "Frankenstein," appeared in a flattering white off-the-shoulder gown by Jonathan Anderson for Dior.
Ginnifer Goodwin wears Giorgio Armani
A precise short haircut, elegant makeup and a maxi dress elevated by texture and a flattering silhouette. Goodwin successfully balanced edge and classicism.
19 View gallery
Ginnifer Goodwin wears Giorgio Armani
(Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Odessa A’zion wears OTT
The American-German actress added drama and sparkle to the red carpet in a silver gown by Dubai-based eveningwear house OTT.
19 View gallery
Odessa A’zion wears OTT
(Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Erin Doherty wears Louis Vuitton
Doherty’s dress looked like a geometry exercise. Despite the refreshing color and an original, surprising silhouette, the final result felt too clownish, raising the question of why anyone would want to look like an IKEA vase. Jewelry — or at least a statement necklace — might have helped elevate the look.
