The Worst-Dressed Celebs At The 2026 Critics Choice Awards

It's a new year, and you know what that means: A new awards season is underway! The Critics Choice Awards was 2026's first major televised gathering of Hollywood's heavy hitters, bringing them together in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday, January 4, for a night of camaraderie and celebration. The show presented celebrities the opportunity to take a risk and start the new year with bold styles and show-stopping looks, and a lot of stars reached for outfits that gave everything, including some eyebrow-raising elements.

The ladies of the industry looked lovely as they walked the red carpet with perfect makeup and hair, but several of them fell victim to wearing too many contrasting styles at once. Liking a variety of aesthetics is normal, but rather than choosing the best one, many decided to combine them, earning peculiar results. When in doubt, it's best to keep definitive styles separate so they don't clash and look overwhelming. So, if there's anything to be learned from this year's Critics Choice Awards, it's that less is more, and there's no need to overthink classic styles that have already proven to be winners. It's just a shame that stars from acclaimed projects like "Hacks," "Severance," and even "KPop Demon Hunters" failed in this regard.

Poor Patricia Arquette has gotten accustomed to wearing dresses that give her a frumpy appearance, including her outfit that made her one of the worst-dressed celebs at the 2025 Emmys. This time, the "Severance" actor wore a brushed gold gown with a strange chevron pattern on the skirt, and her chest spilled out from the dress' neckline because it didn't appear to be properly fitted to her. Moreover, the dress' color felt faded when paired with a long black shawl and a thin black belt. Ultimately, Arquette deserved better.

When it comes to floral gowns, there's a fine line between elegant dresses and grandma's tablecloth. Unfortunately, "Workaholics" actor Jillian Bell picked a print that was too busy — and casual — for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, and the church-ready silhouette didn't help. What's more, her silver necklace teetered on choker territory, which didn't match the dress' energy. Perhaps Bell wanted to choose something formal but dressed down. Regardless, this attempt just looked homely. 

Actor and comedian Hannah Einbinder's transformation has been beautiful, but her CCAs dress made it seem like she'd jumped from "Hacks" to "The Gilded Age." While her slightly Victorian-inspired dress wasn't a complete disaster, it's a shining example of how one excessive detail can turn an outfit into a dud. Einbinder's overly puffy sleeves undermine the entire outfit by pulling focus from the slimming structure of the bodice and skirt. A slight off-the-shoulder strap would've been much more appropriate. It's a shame because she was one of the worst-dressed celebs at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, too.

"Hamnet" actor Jessie Buckley was clearly channeling the popular 2000s trend of wearing dresses over pants when she picked out her 2026 Critics Choice Awards outfit, but this top would've looked bad even if it was worn solo. It's so bizarrely shaped that the material loosely and lifelessly draped over her waist, completely undermining her shape. Rather than opting for a voluminous skirt, fabric was tied to look like a sloppy curtain that was damaged in a typhoon. Ultimately, this look would need a lot of refining to get a pass from us.

We love "KPop Demon Hunters," so it's too bad that two of Huntr/x's singers — Rei Ami (Zoe) and Audrey Nuna (Mira) — donned dresses that completely lost them. Ami's top included curved, snake-like cutouts that were lined with black velvet, while Nuna went fully maximalist with a ballooned dress that looked like it was blown up with helium. Both of their bodies get lose in the silhouettes, which is a shame because they're both so beautiful. Unfortunately, these looks weren't golden. 

Dresses with large skirts are a fun way to be playful with fashion, but if the skirt's size isn't just right, it can look unflattering or like a cartoon gone wrong. That's sadly what went wrong with "Adolescence" star Erin Doherty and her 2026 Critics Choice Awards gown. The classic cut of the dress and delicious mint color were adorable, but the skirt should've flared out to stop at the knee. Bringing it back in and mirroring its shape to come in at the ankles made the skirt look like a pile of lampshades.

Actor May Hong, Mira's speaking voice in "KPop Demon Hunters," made an unforgivable fashion choice for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. Her entire outfit is mind-boggling, as it truly had zero redeeming qualities. The ensemble started with a boring and shapeless dress that looked like undried cement, and it also featured a strange, textured lining that would be barely noticeable if it wasn't so sloppy. Then, the top layer was a dingy gray sweater material with the most unflattering neck cutout to hit the red carpet in years. There's no fixing this one, sadly.