Big night, bold looks: what happened

The 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, doubled as a runway: the record‑breaking cast of Sinners arrived in standout looks and performers and winners kept the momentum at Vanity Fair’s after‑party at LACMA. The night mixed awards history, high fashion and a live musical moment that kept fans talking.

Who showed up and why it matters

Sinners — the supernatural drama set in the Jim Crow South that led this year’s nominations — landed on the red carpet in full force. The film broke the Oscars record for most nominations when the field was announced in January, and that tally translated into heavy presence tonight: director Ryan Coogler was among contenders for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, while Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku were all nominated in acting categories.

Breakout performer Miles Caton also took the stage during the ceremony, joining songwriter Raphael Saadiq for a performance of the Oscar‑nominated original song “I Lied To You.” Co‑stars Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li were also onstage with Caton for the number, turning the awards telecast into part showcase and part celebration for the film.

Standout red carpet moments

  • Sinners cast: The ensemble coordinated glamour with pieces that leaned dramatic and theatrical, matching the film’s charged themes while delivering red carpet-ready tailoring and gowns.
  • Renate Reinsve: The Sentimental Value nominee favored a minimalist Louis Vuitton silhouette — a monochrome dress with a high slit and long hem that critics called confident and quietly daring.
  • Second looks at Vanity Fair: After the ceremony moved to the Vanity Fair party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art — hosting the event at LACMA for the first time in 31 years — many stars debuted fresh outfits for the late-night crowd.

Vanity Fair after‑party highlights

Jessica Alba chose a classic black Tamara Ralph gown with 3D feathers across the skirt for the LACMA celebration. Cara Delevingne went for a theatrical Thom Browne ensemble featuring a red-and-black skeletal top and black pants. Model Quenlin Blackwell turned heads in a floral, white Chanel gown, and longtime couple Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow arrived in coordinated black looks.

Reaction and what’s next

Fans and fashion writers filled social feeds with screenshots and praise, particularly for the Sinners ensemble and Reinsve’s pared-back Louis Vuitton moment. With winners including Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan and films like One Battle After Another, the awards will likely boost ticket sales and streaming attention for the night’s biggest titles — a common post‑Oscars ripple that studios and talent teams monitor closely.

Expect more promotional appearances, magazine shoots and televised interviews in the coming days as nominees and winners ride the post‑Oscars spotlight. For fashion fans, late‑night after‑party looks will continue to be dissected — and copied — through awards season.