Misty Copeland traded her tutu for a tuxedo.
The retired American Ballet Theater principal dancer hit the 2026 Academy Awards red carpet on Sunday in a custom David Koma ensemble that harkened back to her ballet roots. A structured black blazer with a plunging V-neckline and billowing white tulle at the cuffs and hem is paired with a flowing white skirt. Stylist Carla Welch put together the look.
Copeland, 43, accessorized with nearly $2 million worth of Jared natural diamonds, totaling about 30 carats. The anchor piece was a 27-carat emerald-cut ring known as the Jared Mpho Diamond, valued at $1.8 million, according to a press release from the brand.
Copland’s appearance comes days after Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet sparked widespread backlash when he said “nobody cares” about ballet or opera during a town hall with Matthew McConaughey in February.
Chalamet has lost more than 100,000 followers on Instagram since making the comments, which have been criticized by the Royal Ballet, the Opera House and Steven Spielberg.
“If it wasn’t for opera and ballet, he wouldn’t have become an actor and he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be a movie star,” Copeland said during a panel discussion last week. She also said it was “very interesting” that the “Marty Supreme” star had previously invited her to help promote his film.
The two will pass each other inside the Dolby Theater on Sunday, where Copeland will perform in a tribute to Best Picture nominee “Sinners,” dancing “I Lied to You” with vocalists Myles Caton and Rafael Saadiq.
Her moment on the 2026 Oscars red carpet also served as a comeback story. The dancer underwent total hip replacement surgery in December, just weeks after taking her final bow at ABT in October.
She will always say the right thing.
