Dress code? Is it the Met Gala or an awards show? As awards season rolls on, armed with nominations, predictions, snubs, and speeches rehearsed in advance, Hollywood gathers to toast the year that was. 2025 in cinema has already been framed by the Golden Globes and will soon be sealed by the Oscars. But if there is one ceremony that speaks directly for actors, by actors, it is the SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards. And this year, they are not content with simply keeping up, they are rewriting the rules.

That reinvention begins before a single trophy is handed out. The 2026 Actor Awards are arriving with a notable shift in tone and presentation, starting on the red carpet itself. And yes, there is now a dress code.

For decades, the Actor Awards red carpet has been about personal expression rather than prescription. That changes in 2026. In a first for the ceremony, SAG-AFTRA has introduced an official fashion directive, developed in collaboration with ELLE, signaling a more deliberate relationship between cinema and style. The theme, Reimagining Hollywood Glamour From the 1920s and 1930s’ looks back to a time when movie stars dressed to project power, mystique, and narrative presence.

According to ELLE, this is not vintage cosplay. The creative brief encourages actors to reinterpret early Hollywood’s Art Deco sensibility through a contemporary lens. Expect elongated silhouettes, fluid tailoring, sculptural gowns, and designs that play with sensuality and structure. The emphasis is on drama without excess.

The ceremony will take place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 1, 2026, with the live broadcast beginning at 8 P.M. ET / 5 P.M. PT. Red carpet arrivals will begin three hours earlier at 2 P.M PT.

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The question then becomes - who, exactly, is being honored on this carefully curated stage?

This year’s honors follow a pattern. The list includes familiar names that are already dominating other awards shows like the Golden Globes, or even BAFTA. Nominees include Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another, and Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are both nominated for their roles in Bugonia. Casts from The Pitt, Frankenstein, The Studio, and Abbott Elementary are also in contention.

The evening will also feature a legacy moment, with Harrison Ford receiving the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award in recognition of a career that has shaped generations of filmmaking. Additionally, for the third year in a row, the Actor Awards will stream live exclusively on Netflix, reinforcing the show’s position as both an industry benchmark and a global event. SAG-AFTRA has not yet announced a host or presenters, leaving one final element of anticipation intact.

In a season crowded with spectacles, the Actor Awards are making a clear statement: performance matters, presentation matters, and intention matters. From the red carpet to the final standing ovation, this is a ceremony redefining its own image. 

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What do you think of the new dress code and who are you most excited to see take the stage? Share your thoughts.