Venice Film Festival 2026 Best Dressed: Celebrity Red Carpet Fashion Highlights
Standout Couture, Archival Design, and Tailored Menswear at Venice
The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has once again made the Lido a key setting for red-carpet fashion. This year’s strongest looks have not depended on excess. Instead, the best dressed guests have used fabric, silhouette, archival references, and disciplined styling to make a clear impression.
From Penélope Cruz’s red Chanel to Kendall Jenner’s archival Giorgio Armani, the women’s fashion conversation has balanced classic house codes with individual choices. On the menswear side, Jonathan Bailey, John Malkovich, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Franklin Eugene showed that formal dressing can still have character.
Women’s Best Dressed
Jeon Do-yeon in Chloé
Jeon Do-yeon’s Chloé appearance brought a relaxed but considered point of view to the Venice red carpet. The look relied on clean lines and a refined finish rather than heavy ornament. It suited the actor’s composed public style and offered a quieter alternative to more elaborate couture gowns.
She stars in the film Possible Love directed by Lee Chang-dong.
Madisin Rian in Armani
Madisin Rian chose an iridescent Giorgio Armani Privé gown that caught the light without appearing overly styled. The fitted design and reflective finish gave the look a formal presence appropriate for Venice, while the restrained accessories kept the attention on the dress itself.
Nicola Peltz Beckham in Balenciaga
Nicola Peltz Beckham wore Balenciaga couture at the Kinéo Awards red carpet, arriving in a purple gown that offered structure, color, and a defined waist. Other reports described the look as cobalt blue, which may reflect lighting differences in event photography. Either way, the Balenciaga design used a sculptural ballgown shape and selective cutouts to create a distinct red-carpet image.
Penélope Cruz in Chanel
Penélope Cruz selected a red Chanel dress for the Bunker premiere. The design included a high slit, matching red heels, and floral detail at the waist, giving the overall look a direct, controlled finish. Cruz has long been closely associated with Chanel, and this appearance showed why the partnership works. The dress had a strong color story, but its simple shape prevented it from becoming overdone. Cruz is starring in Bunker, which premiered at the festival and garnered a 16 minute standing ovation.
Kendall Jenner in Giorgio Armani
For her first Venice Film Festival appearance, Kendall Jenner wore a vintage Fall/Winter 1995 Giorgio Armani gown with gold floral detailing. The sleeveless white design had a narrow column silhouette and a sense of history that made it especially relevant at a major film festival. She completed the look with Briony Raymond diamond earrings and Aquazzura heels.
Nina Dobrev in Armani Privé Nina Dobrev’s strapless Armani Privé gown paired black sequins with an olive-green chiffon train. The color shift created visual interest while the dress maintained a clean, formal shape. It was a smart use of archival style, with the train offering movement without distracting from the fitted bodice.
Taylor Re Lynn in MNM Couture
Taylor Re Lynn wore an MNM Couture rayon-crepe mermaid gown with spaghetti straps, a sweetheart neckline, and a dramatic laser-cut flower at the waist. The prominent floral element gave the design its identity, while the fitted silhouette kept the dress focused. A coordinated bolero jacket added coverage and expanded the look beyond a standard evening gown. Lynn was present for the premiere of Woman Unknown is directed by May el-Toukhy.
Men’s Best Dressed
Jonathan Bailey in Giorgio Armani Jonathan Bailey wore a sharply tailored Giorgio Armani black tuxedo for the Ink screening. Finished with a bow tie, the ensemble showed how traditional formalwear can remain effective when the fit is exact and the styling is limited to essential details.
John Malkovich in Dior
John Malkovich brought a more individual approach in Dior, most notably through a Shakespearean-inspired frilled collar. The choice was unconventional, but it was appropriate to his established style and gave his formal look a specific point of view.
Patrick Schwarzenegger in Tom Ford Patrick Schwarzenegger chose Tom Ford for Venice 2026, a sensible fit for the actor’s streamlined red-carpet style. The label’s precise tailoring and eveningwear focus supported a polished appearance without relying on decorative details.
Franklin Eugene in Franklin Eugene Luminesce Designer and creative Franklin Eugene wore his own label from his Franklin Eugene Luminesce collection. The choice placed personal authorship at the center of the appearance and demonstrated how a designer can use a public event to present a recognizable label perspective.
Venice Still Matters
Venice Film Festival 2026 best dressed is worth lauding because the festival brings film, fashion, international press, and industry conversation into one concentrated setting for storytelling. For audiences, creators, and cultural observers, it offers early access to major films, great costume design (on and off the screen) and a close view of how celebrities, designers, and studios shape the season’s larger visual and editorial discussion.