The 52nd American Music Awards red carpet on May 25, 2026 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas leaned hard into two extremes: high-shine disco glamour on one side and sharp, monochromatic tailoring on the other, according to Billboard and Fox News. The event was hosted by Hilary Duff and aired on CBS, with arrivals running for nearly two hours before the broadcast.
Sequins and metallics dominated
Duff led the metallic trend in a shimmering silver sleeveless gown dripping in reflective sequins, per Fox News. Paula Abdul wore a sculptural white gown with a geometric silver and flesh-toned mermaid skirt. Across the arrivals area, liquid-metal fabrics and heavy sequin work replaced the matte, "quiet luxury" looks that dominated awards-season carpets in recent years, with multiple stars choosing platinum, silver and gold over jewel tones.
Tailoring with a twist
Counterbalancing the shine, several stars wore sharp suiting.E! Online highlighted Leon Thomas in a tailored black suit accented by a dramatic sash detail, while Jason Derulo arrived in a cropped moto-style leather jacket with wide-leg trousers and metallic hardware — a menswear silhouette closer to runway than red carpet. Double-breasted jackets, cropped blazers and wide-leg trousers turned up repeatedly through the arrivals.
Color statements
Color, not just shine, did some of the heaviest lifting. Teyana Taylor wore violet Balenciaga and Chrissy Teigen wore a tangerine Raisa Vanessa gown, per The Zoe Report. Tinashe arrived in an off-the-shoulder white lace gown with intricate embroidery, paired with layered diamond chokers — one of the more high-fashion silhouettes of the night.
Who else stood out
According to WWD, Karol G, GloRilla, Maluma and Hannah Berner were also among the most photographed arrivals, each pulling toward the bolder end of the carpet's color spectrum. If there is a single read on the 2026 AMAs carpet, it is that minimalism is no longer the default setting for music's biggest names.
