‘Euphoria’ Star Hunter Schafer Brings Timeless Black-Tie Glamour to the Academy Museum Gala
Few stars treat the red carpet like an art form quite the way Hunter Schafer does. At the 2026 Met Gala, she channeled Gustav Klimt’s 1912 painting ‘Mäda Primavesi’ in a Prada gown with an empire waist, a line of rosettes beneath the bust, and deliberately torn holes that revealed floral silk chiffon underneath.
Her fashion résumé is full of moments like that. She wore a black-and-white, multilayered Prada suit to the 2025 Met Gala, and at the 2024 Golden Globes she floated down the carpet in a white see-through gown trailed by translucent tendrils of gauzy fabric.
Schafer’s career has been just as busy as her style calendar. She returned as Jules in the third season of ‘Euphoria’ on HBO this year, and she stars as Hilda, a personal assistant to Michaela Coel’s fashion designer, in David Lowery’s A24 film ‘Mother Mary’ alongside Anne Hathaway.
There’s more on the way, too. Schafer is set to appear in Amazon’s ‘Blade Runner 2099’ alongside Michelle Yeoh and has been tapped for Tom Ford’s ‘Cry to Heaven’, an adaptation of Anne Rice’s 18th-century opera novel.
On October 17, Schafer stepped out at the sixth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, and her arrival quickly became one of the night’s most-watched moments. A video of her on the carpet shared by Film Updates quickly made the rounds.
Hunter Schafer for the Academy Museum Gala https://t.co/xaQ3G8cNLJ
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 18, 2026
She once again turned to Prada, wearing a custom black velvet column gown inspired by the house’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection. The strapless design featured a sculpted sweetheart neckline, a bold bow at the hip, and a slit revealing a flowing white georgette panel.
Schafer paired the gown with voluminous, old Hollywood-style waves and soft, glowing makeup. The Zoe Report described the look as a classic black-tie ensemble, a fitting description for one of the evening’s most elegant arrivals.
Her refined choice matched the overall mood of this year’s event. Compared to last year’s daring moments, The Zoe Report noted that the 2026 gala was more low-key, with many celebrities opting for classic black gowns elevated by texture, draping, and modern proportions. Schafer still managed to stand out. Just Jared included her among its 16 best-dressed stars of the night out of nearly 200 celebrities on the carpet.
Hunter Schafer stuns for the Academy Museum Gala. 📸 Owen Gould https://t.co/LqDiT2ypdU
— Film Crave (@_filmcrave) October 18, 2026
The gala raises funds for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and honored Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo and John Carpenter this year. Fittingly for Schafer, the event was co-chaired by Tom Ford alongside Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw.
That link makes her appearance feel especially timely, given her upcoming role in Ford’s ‘Cry to Heaven’. She joined a guest list that included Taylor Swift, Amandla Stenberg, Sophie Thatcher and Iris Law.
Before her acting breakthrough, Schafer was a well-known model, landing campaigns with brands such as Converse, Marc Jacobs, Gucci and Versace. Her role in ‘Euphoria’ launched her screen career, followed by projects like ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’, ‘Cuckoo’ and ‘Kinds of Kindness’.
just… wow https://t.co/MkBEPIrxIT
— Hunter Schafer Central (@schafercentral) October 18, 2026
With a growing slate of ambitious films and series, Schafer continues to blur the line between fashion and film. Her velvet Prada moment proved she can be just as captivating in timeless glamour as she is in avant-garde art pieces.
What do you think of Hunter Schafer’s custom Prada gown at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala?
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