The 2026 Grammy Awards turned the red carpet into a daring display of near-n*de fashion, leaving fans stunned and sparking a tidal wave of online debate.
Compared to the 2016 Grammys, where stars favored elegant gowns and tailored suits, this year’s ceremony showcased outfits that pushed the limits of sheer fabrics, cutouts, and provocative designs.
Turned heads
Fashion trends naturally evolve, and everyone probably has their favorite era. Lately, though, we’ve seen more and more celebrities showing up at events in outfits that are sheer, see-through, or barely there.
It grabs attention, pushes the boundaries of fashion, and lets them showcase confidence and style. With beauty teams, resources, and peak moments in their careers, they can pull off looks most people couldn’t, and get away with it.
Designers argue these daring looks are a celebration of freedom and a bold reflection of our shifting attitudes toward nudity. Critics, on the other hand, call them a play on the male gaze.
At the 2026 Grammys, several celebrities truly turned heads with their daring and eye-catching outfits.
One of the most jaw-dropping looks came from Chappell Roan, nominated for The Subway. The singer stunned in a sheer Mugler gown that left her chest completely exposed, held up by faux nipple rings.
Fans quickly compared the outfit to Bianca Censori, Kanye West’s wife, known for her skin-baring ensembles.
“Not even Bianca Censori would wear this,” one social media user commented.
Heidi Klum also grabbed attention in a custom Marina Hoermanseder latex dress sculpted to mimic her own body. The 52-year-old supermodel admitted that the stiff design forced her to take “baby steps” all night, joking about the difficulty of moving in the hyper-realistic look. “
I also go for a showstopper kind of an outfit,” Klum told Billboard. “I’m never someone who is… for the nice thing. I always like something special.” Despite her explanation, online critics didn’t hold back.
“Wow, this is heinous. Looks like someone dipped her in liquid wax and called it fashion,” one user wrote, while another quipped,
“It kind of looks like she’s been dipped in a cheese fondue.” Comparisons to Censori’s sheer 2025 look were unavoidable: “Bianca Censori, 2026 edition,” one person noted.
Other stars embraced the trend of revealing looks as well. Teyana Taylor wowed in waist-cinching cutouts, Zara Larsson opted for minimal cropped pieces, and men weren’t shy either, Justin Bieber performed in silver boxer shorts, prompting users to quip, “This is the Grammys, not the beach.”
Fans also spotted daring ensembles from Julia Fox, Florence Pugh, Kristen Stewart, and Dakota Johnson, leading one netizen to bluntly ask, “Why wear anything?”
Behavioral psychologist Dr. Carolyn Mair, author of The Psychology of Fashion, explained the rise of these daring styles: “This trend is connected to many political issues… It’s a reaction to the control that people are having over our lives. With translucent or revealing looks, the wearer feels empowered and communicates to the world that they have control over their own body.”
The 2016 Grammys
Many fans have also pointed out that looking back at the 2016 Grammys shows just how much red carpet fashion has shifted toward a more casual and revealing style. So let’s rewind to 2016.
Back then, Kendrick Lamar dominated the night, taking home five awards, including Best Rap Album for To Pimp a Butterfly. Taylor Swift won three Grammys, including Album of the Year for 1989, which featured hits like Shake It Off and Blank Space.
Meghan Trainor was named Best New Artist, while Ed Sheeran won Song of the Year for his ballad Thinking Out Loud. Compared to today, the fashion that year was noticeably more formal and modest.
Ariana Grande, who introduced The Weeknd, wore a red, floor-length Romona Keveza gown, paired with her signature high ponytail.
Adele, performing All I Ask, dazzled in a long, embroidered Givenchy gown with shoulder cutouts, her short blonde hair down and smoky eye perfectly on point.
Lady Gaga, nominated for Til It Happens to You, never disappoints on the red carpet. That year, she honored David Bowie, who had passed away a month prior, by channeling Ziggy Stardust in a show-stopping custom Marc Jacobs jacket and leotard.
Meanwhile, Selena Gomez embraced the side cut-out trend with a sparkling Calvin Klein dress as she introduced Andra Day and Ellie Goulding.
“The red carpet gown was inspired by the same shade Michelle Pfeiffer wore in Scarface,” explained Kate Young, Selena Gomez’s stylist. “I loved the idea of it feeling like a disco party dress.”
Although the Revival singer didn’t take the stage to perform, she played a key role as a presenter, and nailing the second look was just as crucial. “Think DVF back in the day,” Young said, referring to the inspiration for the outfit. “Something you might wear to Studio 54.”
The finishing touches — sparkling diamond hoop earrings and a statement cocktail dress — were designed to catch the light under the disco ball, creating a truly dazzling fashion moment.
Looking back at the 2016 Grammys compared to the 2026 edition really shows how much red carpet fashion has evolved. From elegant, floor-length gowns and polished looks to sheer, daring outfits that leave little to the imagination, the transformation is striking.
So, which do you prefer — the classic glamour of 2016 or the bold, boundary-pushing style of 2026? The debate is wide open, and fashion fans everywhere are weighing in.
