Watching the Oscars red carpet each year, it’s hard not to see it through a dancer’s eyes. The sweep of a skirt, the sculpted bodice, the occasional burst of feathers or tulle — the whole spectacle often feels surprisingly close to the stage. Fashion designers and costumiers have been borrowing from one another for generations, drawing on the same instincts for movement, drama and silhouette.
So this year we decided to lean into the comparison. Looking through the standout looks from the 2026 Oscars, we paired a selection of gowns and suits with ballet costumes that share something of their spirit. Sometimes the resemblance is striking, sometimes it’s just a shared mood — but the parallels are too good not to notice.
*This list is being constantly updated
Nicole Kidman. Photo: Frazer Harrison/WireImage.
Amber Scott in Swan Lake (Stephen Baynes), The Australian Ballet. Photo: Daniel Boud.
Nicole Kidman, queen that she is, gave ballet a gift: white feathers and silver sparkle. Swan Queen forever.
Rose Byrne. Photo: Julian Hamilton/Getty Images.
Olivia Bell with artists of The Australian Ballet in The Merry Widow (Ronald Hynd). Photo: Jeff Busby.
Love an independent woman who slays in a black gown while flying solo. Hanna Glawari surveyed her ballroom of suitors; our divine Rose Byrne was solo because Bobby Cannavale was at a reptile expo in New Jersey. 11/10 for both.
Elle Fanning. Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images.
Lana Jones in La Sylphide (Australian Ballet). Photo: Jeff Busby.
Elle Fanning’s white gown has the same delicate, romantic softness as a woodland ballet heroine. Lana Jones in La Sylphide just looks a little cheekier about it.
Law Roach. Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images.
Matthew Lehmann as Young Dracula and Melissa McCabe as Lucy in Dracula (2021), West Australian Ballet. Photo: Bradbury Photography.
Brocade and heeled boots. Full marks to Law Roach, who pulls off the fussy coat better than Drac — mainly because he doesn’t look quite so pained.
EJAE. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Amy Harris with artists of The Australian Ballet in Spartacus (Lucas Jervies). Photo: Kate Longley.
Always risky to attend the Academy Awards dressed like an Oscar. But when you know you’re gold, you’re good.
Zoe Saldaña. Photo: Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images.
Yanela Pinera and Matthew Lawrence in Queensland Ballet’s Strictly Gershwin. Photo: David Kelly.
The 90's are back. I dig it. HOWEVER I also think the Oscars deserve more. Give me drama.
Jessie Buckley. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Isobelle Dashwood in Copland Dance Episodes (Justin Peck). Photo: Pierre Toussaint.
COLOUR COMBO OF THE SEASON. DASHWOOD PREMIERED IT. Buckley flipped it and owned it.
Auli’i Cravalho. Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images.
Leanne Stojmenov in Cinderella, The Australian Ballet.
We all want a Cinderella moment. But we have to say, Stojmenov wore this one better. The details on Cravalho’s gown low-key look like a sad face.
Lena Mahfouf. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Amy Harris with artists of The Australian Ballet in Spartacus (Lucas Jervies). Photo: Kate Longley.
Amy Harris makes a second appearance on the list because cut-out gowns are clearly having a moment again. She wore them repeatedly in Spartacus, with the kind of confidence this silhouette demands. I suspect attempting it myself might result in a lifetime of posture anxiety, but both Lena and Amy make a very convincing case.
Mikey Madison. Photo: Julian Hamilton/Getty Images.
Chihiro Nomura as Kitri in Don Quixote, West Australian Ballet. Photo: Stef King.
Mikey Madison delivers a deep red look worthy of Don Quixote — the kind of dress that might inspire a little windmill-tilting.
Chase Infiniti. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Mia Heathcote in The Australian Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty (David McAllister). Photo: Simon Eeles.
Chase Infiniti gives Lilac Fairy energy: light, lilac and clearly operating on a higher plane than the rest of us. Mia Heathcote as the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty would understand.
Teyana Taylor. Photo: Getty Images.
Kiki Saito as Odette with Carina Roberts, Claire Voss, Mayume Noguromi and Candice Adea in Swan Lake, West Australian Ballet. Photo: Bradbury Photography.
Teyana Taylor’s black-and-white look feels straight out of Swan Lake: crisp contrast, sculptural lines and just enough drama to rival Kiki Saito’s Odette.
Felicity Jones. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Dayana Hardy Acuña as Juliet with Charles Dashwood as Paris in Romeo & Juliet, West Australian Ballet. Photo: Bradbury Photography.
Yellow always reads like sunshine on stage, and the same rule applies on the red carpet: warm, luminous and impossible to ignore. It's not bold, but I'm happy for her.
Demi Moore. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Katherine Sonnekus in The Australian Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty (David McAllister). Photo: Simon Eeles.
Feathered up and not a care. Demi Moore (and Carabosse too), they could never make me hate you.
Chloé Zhao. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Polly Hilton as Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, West Australian Ballet. Photo: Bradbury Photography.
Big sleeves are perfect for hiding secrets, poison or stolen Oscar statues. Less ideal at a buffet. Excellent for drama.
Nicole Kidman. Photo: Frazer Harrison/WireImage.
Amber Scott in Swan Lake (Graeme Murphy), The Australian Ballet. Photo: Elliott Franks.
Amber Scott makes another convincing Odette beside Nicole Kidman — more feathers this, perhaps a little more expression. We still stan Nicole, of course.
Damson Idris. Photo: Frazer Harrison/WireImage.
Oscar Valdés as Sebastian in Swan Lake, West Australian Ballet. Photo: Bradbury Photography.
A blue long coat on a man always wins. Why did we ever stop wearing them? Oscar Valdés needs the cutaway to jump sky-high, but Damson Idris looks ready to fight — and win — a duel on my behalf.
Timothée Chalamet. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Oscar Valdés as Prince Desiré in The Sleeping Beauty, West Australian Ballet. Photo: Bradbury Photography.
Himbo vs. Hero. Chalamet you're on notice. I'll take charming.