Emmys 2026 Red Carpet Looks: Who to Watch Monday, the Colors Emmy Week Already Picked, and Every Arrival (Updating)
Key takeaways
- The 78th Emmys carpet opens Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET outside the Peacock Theater. The ceremony is live at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
- Emmy week has already shown its hand: two gold gowns and two white ones on the Creative Arts carpet, plus a scarlet gown for host Mariska Hargitay.
- The names worth waiting for are nominee and presenter Zendaya, three original Charlie's Angels on one presenter list, and a Buffy pairing.
- This page fills in Monday night, same URL: arrivals, the colors that won the night, and designers once two outlets confirm them.
Quick answer — bet on gold and white. The Creative Arts carpet on Sept. 6 put Leslie Bibb in a metallic gold slip and Rachel Blanchard in mustard-gold satin, and the host has been teasing gold for weeks. The closest gold or champagne satin gowns we could buy right now cost $38.99, $199 and $1,595.
The Emmys usually land on a Sunday. This year the show sits on a Monday, and it also falls inside New York Fashion Week. Both facts shape what you will see on the blue carpet tomorrow night. Our carpet time and streaming guide covers every way to watch without cable.
When do the first arrivals show up on Monday?
| What | Time (ET) | Time (PT) | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet coverage opens | 5:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | E!, Peacock, Television Academy feeds |
| NBC red carpet livestream, hosted by Trisha Paytas and Nicky Campbell | 6:45–7:45 p.m. | 3:45–4:45 p.m. | NBC's official TikTok |
| Ceremony, live coast to coast | 8:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| First update to this page | About 7:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Here |
Early arrivals are usually supporting players and first-time nominees. The biggest names tend to walk in the last 45 minutes, which on Monday means roughly 7 to 7:45 p.m. ET. If you only have one window, take that one.
What colors has Emmy week already put on the carpet?
The Creative Arts Emmys ran over two nights the weekend before. They are the best preview we have, because many of the same stylists work both carpets. Here is what night two looked like, as described by Hello! magazine:
| Who | Color | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| Leslie Bibb | Metallic gold | Floor-length slip, spaghetti straps, draped neckline |
| Rachel Blanchard | Mustard gold | Satin, black straps, plunging V, soft drape |
| Kaitlin Olson | White | Floor-length, structured square neckline, textured finish |
| Shailene Woodley | White | Mini, low scoop neck, fitted waist |
| Karolina Wydra | Black | Strapless, asymmetric folded neckline |
| Emily Bader | Olive green | Strapless sequins, woven fringed skirt |
Add Hargitay's scarlet strapless gown from night one and her gold sequin portrait tease, tracked in our host looks page, and gold is the one color on both lists. Why it suits a blue floor is explained there too. The costume winners from the same weekend are in our Creative Arts costume roundup.
Who should you actually watch for on the carpet?
The Television Academy's presenter list, reported by TheWrap on Sept. 9, gives us more to go on than the nominee list alone. Presenters walk the carpet too, and this year several of them come in groups.
| Name | Why they matter Monday |
|---|---|
| Zendaya | Lead drama actress nominee for Euphoria and a presenter, so she may change looks |
| Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd, Jaclyn Smith | All three original Charlie's Angels are presenting; Deadline billed it as a reunion |
| Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Boreanaz | The Buffy pairing on the same list |
| Jean Smart, Lisa Kudrow | Comedy lead nominees for final seasons of Hacks and The Comeback |
| Sarah Pidgeon | Limited series lead nominee for playing Carolyn Bessette, whose '90s slip dresses are still copied |
| Florence Pugh, Keke Palmer, Rachel Sennott | Presenters whose carpet choices tend to get talked about the next day |
Group looks are worth watching as a set. Reunion presenters often coordinate a color family without matching, and that is easier to copy than any single gown.
The Television Academy posted its own carpet preview on Sept. 10. Late-night bookings for Emmys nominees this week are listed on Talk Show On Air.
What has Zendaya worn to the Emmys before?
| Year | Look | Designer |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Emerald one-shoulder gown, sheer bodice, thigh-high slit, styled with red hair | Vera Wang, custom |
| 2020 (virtual) | Black-and-white polka-dot gown, worn at home when she won | Christopher John Rogers |
| 2022 | Black strapless gown, peplum bodice with a bow, 1950s shape | Valentino, custom |
The pattern is a strong single color and a clear reference point, not trend pieces. That is why her look is hard to predict and easy to copy afterward: one color, one silhouette.
Why might Monday's gowns come from the archive?
New York Fashion Week runs Sept. 10 through 15 this year, according to the CFDA. Christian Siriano, who has dressed Hargitay before, is on the official schedule. So are Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors and Tory Burch, all regular carpet names.
That leaves ateliers busy with spring 2027 collections during the week they would normally finish custom Emmys gowns. Our expectation, not a confirmed report: more looks pulled from past runways and fewer made-to-order pieces. Once the credits come in we will note which gowns were archival. For how loans and credits normally work, read how TV wardrobes actually work.
How do you get the gold satin look at three prices?
None of these is a gown from the carpet. They are the closest sold versions of the gold slip and satin looks from Creative Arts week. We checked prices on each brand's own site on Sept. 13, 2026, at 12:40 a.m. ET.
| Tier | Gown | Price | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Flolae One Shoulder Satin Column Maxi Dress, Champagne | $38.99 | Floor-length polyester satin, twisted knot at the bust, S–XL |
| Mid | Meshki Peyton V Neck Satin Maxi Dress, Gold | $199 | Bias cut, twist front, cutaway back. Only XL to 3XL were in stock when we checked |
| Splurge | STAUD Rhea Dress, Champagne | $1,595 | Halter maxi, low back, beaded straps, side slit, sizes 00–16 |
Satin shows every seam and every line underneath it. Size for the hips, steam rather than iron, and wear a seamless slip. More price-tier edits live in Shop the Look, and last week's ideas for dressing for a watch party are in what to wear while you watch.
What will this page add Monday night?
| Section | When (ET) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Arrivals, in order, with color and shape | From about 7:00 p.m. | Updating Monday |
| Color count for the night | After 8:00 p.m. | Updating Monday |
| Best looks shortlist, with the closest buy for each | After the ceremony | Updating Monday |
| Designer credits, only once two outlets agree | Through Tuesday | Updating Tuesday |
Two nights of ballroom follow on Tuesday and Wednesday. The full week's calendar is in TV Fashion Next Week, and premiere times are on Reality On Air. Every carpet story we run sits in Red Carpet.
Emmys 2026 red carpet FAQ
What time does the Emmys red carpet start? Coverage starts at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT on Monday, Sept. 14. The show is at 8 p.m. ET.
Why is the Emmys carpet blue? NBC, which carries the show this year, is marking its 100th anniversary.
Is Zendaya going to the Emmys? She is on the announced presenter list and is nominated for lead actress in a drama series for Euphoria.
Are the Charlie's Angels reuniting at the Emmys? Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith are all listed as presenters.
Can I stream the show without cable? Yes, on Peacock. Everything else new on Peacock this week is on Streaming On Air.
Sources
- NBC Insider — ceremony time, venue, blue carpet, TikTok livestream hosts and times.
- TheWrap, Sept. 9, 2026, and Deadline — presenter list and reunions.
- Television Academy — drama and comedy lead actress nominees; TVLine — limited series nominees.
- Hello! — Creative Arts night two looks, Sept. 6, 2026.
- CFDA — New York Fashion Week dates and designers.
- Essence (2019), E! News (2020) and E! News (2022) — Zendaya's past Emmys looks.
- Prices: Flolae, Meshki, STAUD, checked Sept. 13, 2026, 12:40 a.m. ET.
- Mariska Hargitay's Emmys 2026 Host Looks: The Gold Tease, the Blue Carpet, and Every Outfit Change (Updating)
- Costume Design Emmys 2026: Every Winner, When FXX Airs the Ceremony — and Why Bridgerton and Emily in Paris Lost
- Emmys 2026 Red Carpet: What Time It Starts, Where to Watch — and What Those Column Gowns Cost to Copy
- Emmys 2026 Red Carpet: What Last Year Told Us to Expect — and What to Wear While You Watch