Wunmi Mosaku may not have taken home the Oscar on the night, but she absolutely won the red carpet. Closing out a historic 2026 awards season, the British-Nigerian star delivered a double fashion moment at the 98th Academy Awards, reminding everyone that her presence this season has been nothing short of unforgettable.
Recognised for her role as Annie in Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, Mosaku arrived at the ceremony in a custom emerald green gown by Louis Vuitton, designed by Nicolas Ghesquière. The look was striking, elegant, and perfectly in tune with the energy she has carried throughout awards season. Styled by Shameelah Hicks, the ensemble was paired with jewellery by David Yurman, makeup by Uzo, and hair by Araxi Lindsey, a glam team that has helped shape some of her most memorable looks to date.
There was something even more special about this moment. As a first-time Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actress, Mosaku stepped onto one of the biggest stages in film carrying not just a nomination, but the momentum of an extraordinary run. On the red carpet, she described the night as “a whirlwind,” admitting she had “never seen this side of the curtain” before, while also calling her role “divinely placed.”
Her performance as Annie, a hoodoo practitioner and partner to Michael B. Jordan’s character Smoke required deep preparation, from studying hoodoo practices to mastering a Louisiana Creole dialect. It’s a role that has clearly defined her season and positioned her as one of the standout talents of the year.
And what a season it has been. Mosaku had already made history weeks before the Oscars, winning Best Supporting Actress at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, becoming the first Black British actress to claim the award. She followed that with another major win at the 57th NAACP Image Awards, taking home Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, as Sinners dominated the night with 13 wins from 18 nominations.
By the time the Oscars arrived, Sinners was already a record-breaker, leading with 16 nominations, the most of any film in Academy Awards history.
While the Oscar itself may not have gone her way, Mosaku made sure to end the night on a high note. For the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, she changed into a custom purple gown by Georges Chakra, styled with jewellery from Marli and once again finished with hair by Araxi Lindsey. The second look was just as commanding, a perfect closing statement to a night, and a season, defined by elegance and impact.
From historic wins to unforgettable red carpet moments, Wunmi Mosaku’s 2026 awards season has been one of the most remarkable runs we’ve seen from a British-Nigerian actress and if this is anything to go by, she’s only just getting started.