The men hit the 2026 VMAs carpet in everything from classic tuxedos to leather, fur and cowboy-inspired fits — but which looks actually worked?
The MTV Video Music Awards returned to Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, for the 43rd edition of a show that has spent more than four decades sitting at the intersection of music, pop culture and style. First held in 1984, the VMAs have produced the kind of moments that live far beyond awards night, and 2026 added a few more to the archive. Snoop Dogg hosted the show from the Peacock Theater, Madonna returned to the VMA stage for the first time in 23 years, Nirvana received the Video Vanguard Award and Taylor Swift became the most-awarded artist in VMA history while also taking home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia.”
There was plenty happening onstage too! Shaboozey and Gunna linked up for “Cowgirl” and “High Noon,” LISA performed “Sawadika,” RAYE took the stage, and the night featured tributes to both Dolly Parton and George Michael. But like basically every major awards show, people weren’t only watching to see who walked away with a Moon Person. What everybody wore while walking into the building was its own event.
The VMAs have always encouraged stars to take bigger fashion swings than they might at a Grammys or Oscars red carpet, and this year was no different. Some of the men went formal, others leaned into leather, Western influences, or oversized silhouettes, while a few looks immediately had people debating whether the idea translated. We aren’t making that call for you, though. Take a look at some of the night’s most talked-about men’s fits below and decide for yourself who belonged on the best and worst dressed sides of the conversation.
Kevin Gates went the formal route in a black-and-white tuxedo, giving the carpet one of its more traditional menswear looks. While plenty of artists used the VMAs as an excuse to experiment, Gates kept the focus on classic black-tie styling rather than piling on extra pieces.
Moneybagg Yo took a much more relaxed approach, pairing a crisp white T-shirt with gray trousers and black loafers. The simplicity of the fit made it stand out against some of the night’s more elaborate ensembles, and The Shade Room included Bagg among its best-dressed stars while fans weighed whether keeping things that understated was the right move for the VMAs.
Gunna cleaned up in a tan suit, letting a large diamond-encrusted cross chain serve as the centerpiece of the look. Complex described the rapper as “dapper” on the carpet, and the relatively muted color palette was a noticeable contrast to the long dark leather coat he later wore onstage alongside Shaboozey.
Shaboozey brought his usual Western influence to the carpet with a Chrome Hearts look built around a black leather blazer and vest, white shirt, slime tie and cropped pants. Pointed boots, silver jewelry, grills and an oversized belt buckle finished it off, with multiple fashion outlets singling him out among the night’s standout menswear looks.
Lucky Daye arrived in Campillo, but his clothing wasn’t the only thing drawing attention: his sculpted high-top hairstyle quickly became part of the overall conversation. The look played with proportions around the waist to create a sharper silhouette, and at least one fashion review highlighted Daye specifically among the men worth watching on the carpet.
Kel Mitchell went all-in on color with a yellow three-piece suit and oversized orange-tinted aviators, then added Pluto TV branding through his tie and accessories. That sponsorship-heavy approach became part of the discussion around the outfit, with one fashion recap arguing that the branding distracted from the suit itself. Whether that makes it clever red-carpet marketing or simply too much is up to you.
Sinners star Miles Caton ditched the standard tuxedo for a KidSuper leather jacket featuring a large white dove, pairing it with Dr. Martens for a much more casual silhouette. The peace-themed jacket landed Caton in several roundups, with both Teen Vogue and Just Jared placing particular attention on his VMAs appearance.
Sombr was one of the men who used the VMAs’ anything-goes dress code to push further away from conventional suiting. His custom ERL look mixed fur, low-slung leather pants, and a statement belt buckle, creating one of the night’s more unconventional men’s silhouettes and earning mention in multiple best-dressed roundups.
Teddy Swims kept things extremely simple in an all-black ensemble, which was a noticeably quieter approach compared with some of the bigger swings happening around him on the carpet. That simplicity became the criticism: OK! included Swims on its worst-dressed list and argued that the look felt too casual for the VMAs, while some viewers online had a similarly lukewarm reaction.
Adam Lambert went in the complete opposite direction, wearing a dramatic custom Charles de Vilmorin Couture black cape and feathered headpiece that spelled out his name. The look was designed as a tribute to late fashion icon André Leon Talley, but it still proved divisive; some fashion coverage criticized the oversized robe as underwhelming despite all the fabric and theatrics.
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The Best And Worst Dressed Men At The 2026 MTV VMAs was originally published on cassiuslife.com
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