Misty Copeland is the picture of elegance at the 2026 Oscars.
The world-renowned ballerina joined Hollywood stars on the red carpet at Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood ahead of the ceremony, where she is set to perform a dance for a tribute to the film Sinners. The dance will be set to the song “I Lied to You.”
For her big night, Copeland was regal in a custom-made ensemble from David Koma, which included a silky white skirt and a plunging black blazer lined with white tutu-inspired ruffles. Styled by Karla Welch, she accessorized the look with over $2 million of natural diamonds—the centerpiece being a massive 27-carat emerald-cut diamond ring.
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Copeland’s attendance and upcoming performance comes days after she publicly defended her art form in response to viral comments made by Timothée Chalamet.
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After Chalamet mocked ballet an opera in an interview, calling them dying art forms that “no one cares” about, Copeland—the first Black female principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater—fired back.
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“First, I have to say that it’s very interesting that he invited me to be a part of promoting ‘Marty Supreme’ with respect to my art form,” she said, noting the irony that she helped market Chalamet’s film Marty Supreme by posing in his viral jacket.
“There’s a reason that the opera and ballet have been around over 400 years,” Copeland continued. “And I think that when you have access, you have opportunity to be a part of something, it can change your life.”
