Zendaya cut through the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards carpet with a pixie cut and what editors called "ethereal glam" — the single most-talked-about beauty moment of the night. The Euphoria nominee, described in live coverage as "the reigning red carpet queen of 2026," anchored a red carpet that leaned hard on three recurring trends: red lips, low ponytails and short hair.

What did the first arrivals set the tone with?

Lena Hall opened the arrivals with a red lip paired against a cerulean gown. Miriam Shor, a first-time Emmy nominee, echoed the shade with a poppy red lip and a sleek, middle-parted lob. Jackie Tohn of Nobody Wants This wore a shade of red lipstick that editors predicted viewers would want to identify by morning, and Linda Cardellini finished the night's power-red streak with a shag haircut.

Which haircuts ran the carpet?

Short hair claimed the night. The roll call:

• Zendaya — a pixie cut, styled with soft glam
• Louisa Jacobson — a "perfectly imperfect bixie" with a subtle smokey eye, a look The Gilded Age star had never worn this strongly on a carpet, per live commentary
• Carrie Coon — a committed platinum pixie
• Kristen Kish — an artfully swooped short style that the Top Chef host used to counter any claim that short hair bores on a red carpet
• Lukita Maxwell — a bob that Shrinking star proved is still reigning
• Fiona Dourif — baby bangs with red hair
• Jessica Williams — baby bangs with Old Hollywood glam and pink eyeshadow

Low ponytails also repeated. Grace Gummer and Shailene Woodley both wore the style, which editors flagged as a major fall hair trend. Nicole Kidman continued her much-discussed set of bangs — coverage called them "divorce bangs" — and looked "as statuesque as ever on the blue carpet tonight."

Were there breakout makeup directions?

Mermaid waves paired with natural glam defined two of the night's biggest names: Selena Gomez, nominated for Only Murders in the Building, and Supriya Ganesh of The Pitt, whose soft waves earned a full editorial endorsement. Ayo Edebiri delivered what coverage called "a bold dramatic eye moment, at last," styling herself "every bit the high fashion darling." Keri Russell pushed a smokey eye into fresh, otherworldly territory — on a night she could finally win Best Actress for The Diplomat.

Amanda Peet ran a full '90s program: a light wash of plum on the lips, a slick-back bun and a minimalist black slip dress. Denee Benton's full-body glow prompted editors to ask whether Vaseline Shimmering Body Oil was at work again. Rachel Sennott kept it loose with an extra-high pony and a dash of pink shadow — proof, per coverage, that the Emmys carpet doesn't demand seriousness.

Emma D'Arcy closed out the trend ledger with wet-look hair that editors called both "masc" and "stylish and cool" on a red carpet.

What does this mean for fall?

The carpet doubled as a fall trend forecast. The repeat appearances of red lipstick, low ponytails, baby bangs, bixies, pixies and pink eyeshadow across dozens of arrivals signal a season where short cuts and saturated lips replace quiet polish — with Carey Mulligan's romantic chignon and minimal makeup standing as the notable counterargument.