Hollywood’s leading women decisively dominated the red carpet at the 2026 Actor Awards, outshining their male counterparts in both style and social media engagement, according to the latest Red Carpet Power Rankings from The Hollywood Reporter in collaboration with data firm Launchmetrics. The March 1 event saw a significant surge in overall Media Impact Value (MIV), with female stars like Demi Moore and Jenna Ortega generating substantial online buzz and affirming the growing influence of fashion in the awards season narrative.
The Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, stands as a pivotal moment in the annual awards circuit, drawing considerable attention to both cinematic achievements and celebrity fashion. This year’s ceremony, streamed globally by Netflix, offered a unique opportunity for brands and stars to capture the public’s imagination. The Red Carpet Power Rankings, now in its third year, employs a proprietary MIV algorithm to quantify the monetary value of social media interactions, editorial mentions, and overall brand influence generated by red carpet placements. This data provides an invaluable barometer of an event’s cultural resonance, especially in the absence of traditional viewership figures from streaming platforms.
This year’s results underscored a clear trend: women’s fashion overwhelmingly drove the conversation. While it is generally observed that female celebrity attire sparks more online attention than men’s, the margin at the 2026 Actor Awards was particularly pronounced. The combined MIV for the top five women soared to an impressive $16.9 million, a marked increase from $13.45 million in 2025. In stark contrast, the top five men generated a total of $5.03 million, representing less than 30 percent of the ladies’ performance. This disparity highlights the unique power of female stars to transform red carpet appearances into global fashion moments.
Despite this trend, the rankings acknowledged that male stars can indeed command significant engagement, referencing Bad Bunny’s strong performance at the Grammy Awards as a recent example. However, even a major win did not guarantee a top spot in the style engagement metrics at the Actor Awards. Michael B. Jordan, who clinched the Best Actor trophy for Sinners and instantly became an Oscar favorite, did not significantly move the needle in social engagement across style categories, despite looking impeccable in a Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann ensemble. This illustrates the complex interplay between award recognition and fashion impact on the red carpet.
The overall MIV generated across all categories — fashion, jewelry and watches, accessories, and the top five men and women — totaled $71.7 million, an increase from $67.71 million in 2025. This growth was primarily fueled by the strong performances in jewelry and watches and, crucially, the top five women on the red carpet. The statistics for the top five men, however, saw a slight decline from the previous year, signaling a potential area for brands and stylists to innovate in male celebrity dressing.
Defining Moments: Top Women on the Actor Awards Red Carpet
The red carpet at the Actor Awards was a canvas for dramatic and captivating fashion, with several women delivering looks that became instant social media sensations. Demi Moore’s custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture creation was arguably the night’s most talked-about ensemble. Designed by Daniel Roseberry, the black wool crepe bustier dress featured a trompe l’oeil crocodile tail embroidery cascading down the front, complemented by a bustle-like white tulle "cloud" on the back, adorned with approximately 20,000 beads and crystals. This intricate gown, part of Roseberry’s spring/summer 2026 haute couture collection, required over 7,700 hours of embroidery and generated "literal gasps" from red carpet commentators, earning Schiaparelli a staggering $5 million in MIV.
Close behind in individual impact was Teyana Taylor, whose gown by Thom Browne garnered widespread social media praise as "the naked dress that wasn’t." The design, featuring an intarsia torso bodice, secured Browne’s label an impressive $4.6 million in MIV, underscoring the power of a singular, impactful look.
Jenna Ortega, star of Wednesday, perfectly embraced the night’s dressing theme of "Reimagining Hollywood Glamour from the ’20s and ’30s" with her bias-cut Christian Cowan gown. Paired with Mikimoto pearls, thigh-high stockings, and Jimmy Choo platform sandals, her much-discussed ensemble earned the actress and her designer an MIV of $3.1 million, showcasing a youthful yet sophisticated interpretation of classic elegance.
Emma Stone contributed to Louis Vuitton’s strong showing with her lilac slip dress and matching cardigan, placing her and the brand squarely in fourth place among individual women. Rounding out the top five was Chase Infiniti, whose custom Louis Vuitton headpiece — a delicate beaded cap — was particularly noted for its adherence to the evening’s theme, adding significantly to the French label’s overall earned engagement. These top five women collectively amassed $16.9 million in MIV, firmly establishing their reign over the Actor Awards red carpet.
Leading Fashion Houses on the Actor Awards Red Carpet
Louis Vuitton emerged as the leading fashion brand, strategically dressing nine stars, including brand ambassadors Emma Stone and Jeremy Allen White. The label’s significant presence, featuring many custom designs for figures like Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, Rhea Seehorn, and Erin Doherty, culminated in a top spot with $6.3 million in Media Impact Value. Chase Infiniti’s distinctive custom headpiece further amplified Louis Vuitton’s themed impact.
Schiaparelli’s second-place finish, with $5 million in MIV, was almost entirely attributed to Demi Moore’s singular, show-stopping gown. This highlights how one meticulously crafted, high-impact look can rival the cumulative effect of dressing multiple celebrities. Balenciaga secured the third position with $4.7 million in MIV, a result of dressing Actor Award winners Jessie Buckley and Noah Wyle, alongside Sarah Pidgeon from Ryan Murphy’s Love Story, and other stars such as Yerin Ha, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Michelle Randolph. Thom Browne’s fourth-place success, as noted, was largely propelled by Teyana Taylor’s acclaimed gown, earning the brand $4.6 million.
Male Stars on the Actor Awards Red Carpet: Engagement and Nuance
While the men’s engagement figures were considerably lower than the women’s, several male stars made notable impressions. Connor Storrie, co-star of Heated Rivalry, continued his film’s strong awards season streak, leading the top five men. His Saint Laurent tuxedo, worn without a shirt, powerfully showcased a Tiffany & Co. Mixed Cluster necklace in diamonds and platinum, securing a combined $2.8 million in MIV for the brands and earning him the top spot among male individuals and third for jewelry.
Timothée Chalamet, with his 21.4 million Instagram followers, contributed to his second-place finish, although his stylist, Taylor McNeil, is often the one posting his red-carpet looks. Rounding out the list were Sam Nivola from The White Lotus, who placed fourth with $476,000 in MIV for his Dior tuxedo, and Jeremy Allen White, who, despite dropping a couple of spots from the 2025 Power Rankings, still secured fifth place in Louis Vuitton with an MIV of $451,000. The nuanced engagement for men suggests that while individual style choices can resonate, the collective impact remains significantly lower compared to their female counterparts.
Shining Bright: Top Jewelry and Watches
In the highly competitive jewelry and watches category, Tiffany & Co. emerged victorious with $3.6 million in MIV. This success was driven by its presence on multiple high-profile stars, including Connor Storrie, Teyana Taylor, Quinta Brunson, Kristen Wiig, Chase Sui Wonders, and Hamnet director Chloé Zhao. The brand’s diamonds and gold pieces consistently captured attention throughout the night.
Notably, independent designers also achieved significant recognition. Los Angeles-based Emily P. Wheeler secured second place with $1.3 million in MIV, outfitting Kate Hudson with exquisite diamonds to complement her Valentino gown. London-based Jessica McCormack followed closely, providing a suite of jewels to the Hamnet star, generating $1.25 million in earned engagement. These breakthroughs highlight the increasing visibility and impact of smaller, artisan brands in the luxury market.
Belperron’s fourth-place finish, with $1.1 million in MIV, was partly fueled by a memorable incident involving Gwyneth Paltrow. The Marty Supreme co-star wore vintage 1930 turquoise earclips from the house with her custom Givenchy gown. However, when she appeared onstage as a presenter, one earring was conspicuously missing. The subsequent media frenzy and eventual recovery of the earring undoubtedly propelled the New York-based house into the top five, demonstrating how unexpected moments can amplify brand exposure.
The Finishing Touches: Top Accessories
Accessories played a crucial role in completing many of the night’s most celebrated looks, with Jimmy Choo leading the pack with $726,000 in MIV. The brand dressed numerous stars, including Aimee Lou Wood, Odessa A’zion, Dove Cameron, and Chris Perfetti. However, Jenna Ortega’s choice of Jimmy Choo "Max" platform sandals, visible through the high slit of her Christian Cowan gown, significantly contributed to the brand’s first-place finish, leveraging Ortega’s considerable social media following of 38.9 million Instagram followers.
Christian Louboutin followed closely in second place, dressing a comparable number of celebrities such as Sarah Catherine Hook, Mindy Kaling, Tyler James Williams, Britt Lower, and Janelle James. The strong individual impact of Ortega’s look likely provided Jimmy Choo with the edge over Louboutin’s iconic red soles. Tyler Ellis, the Los Angeles-based designer, secured a solid third-place finish with $382,000 in MIV, thanks to her stylish Italian-made clutches carried by Ali Larter, Mindy Kaling, Emily Watson, and Regina Hall. Actor Awards host Kristen Bell’s choice of René Caovilla footwear helped the brand earn a fourth-place spot with $119,000 in MIV, while Milan-based Paris Texas benefited from Sarah Paulson’s appearance in a vintage 1979 Yves Saint Laurent gown, which helped edge the brand into fifth place with $104,000 in earned engagement.
Broader Implications and The Road Ahead
The 2026 Actor Awards red carpet provided compelling insights into the evolving dynamics of celebrity influence and brand engagement. The significant increase in overall MIV, particularly for women and in the jewelry sector, underscores the growing economic value of red carpet visibility. These rankings not only highlight the most successful fashion moments but also offer a quantitative measure of star power and brand resonance, providing valuable data for designers, publicists, and Hollywood studios alike. The event served as a powerful reminder of how celebrity fashion can drive cultural conversations, influence trends, and ultimately impact brand perception and sales.
As the industry now turns its attention to the climax of the 2026 awards season, the 98th Academy Awards, set for Sunday, March 15, at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, the expectations for red carpet drama and style impact are higher than ever. The trends observed at the Actor Awards red carpet — particularly the dominance of women, the rise of singular, impactful looks, and the strategic leveraging of social media — will undoubtedly inform the sartorial choices and publicity strategies for Hollywood’s biggest night. The battle for media impact value continues, promising another spectacle of fashion and celebrity influence.
