‘Scooby-Doo’ Star Mckenna Grace Turns Heads in Vivid Red at the Academy Museum Gala
Mckenna Grace has spent most of her life in front of the camera, and her red carpet style has been evolving right alongside her career. The actress first broke through as a child prodigy in ‘Gifted’, earning a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Young Performer.
Since then, she has steadily taken on more mature and varied roles. She led the romantic drama ‘Regretting You’ last year, appeared in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ and joined the cast of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ as Maysilee Donner.
Her red carpet presence has grown just as quickly. At the 2026 Oscars, Grace wore a custom Vera Wang Haute pink satin ballgown with a basque waist, a look widely seen as an homage to Gwyneth Paltrow’s famous 1999 Ralph Lauren Oscars gown.
Fans praised the tailoring and construction, with many calling it one of the evening’s most romantic looks. She completed that fairytale moment with Smiling Rocks jewels and a soft updo.
On October 17, Grace took a completely different direction at the sixth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles. A clip of her arrival shared by Film Updates quickly made the rounds, making it one of the night’s most-watched moments.
Mckenna Grace for the Academy Museum Gala https://t.co/ASeAeF0h6h
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 18, 2026
She wore a vivid red, floor-length halter gown with a sleek column silhouette. Without sequins, ruffles, or heavy jewelry competing for attention, the look relied entirely on its bold color and clean lines.
Grace paired the gown with long, softly waved blonde hair and minimal accessories. The pared-back styling created a striking contrast to the voluminous princess energy of her Oscars ensemble.
The simplicity of the look helped it shine. In a field filled with feathers, sequins and sculpted couture, the straightforward red gown still managed to stand out.
Fans online responded warmly, praising the bold color and sleek silhouette. Some still preferred her pink Oscars moment, but most agreed the gala look showed a confident new side of her style.
Mckenna Grace at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala/ Jennifer Lawrence at the 2011 Oscars. Both Hunger Games stars were 20 years old in these photos. ♥️ https://t.co/9qdJYI8xmZ
— PanemPropaganda (@panempropaganda) October 18, 2026
Grace also brought plenty of personality to the carpet. The Academy Museum shared a clip of her playfully making the case that ‘Scooby-Doo’ should be classified as a horror film.
The topic was fitting, given her current schedule. She has been balancing filming on ‘Scooby-Doo: Origins’ and the upcoming ‘Hunger Games’ prequel, while also starring as Hannah Thurman in ‘Scream 7’ earlier this year. Grace’s creative work extends well beyond acting. She released her debut album, ‘Bittersweet 16’, in 2023, followed by the ‘Autumn Leaves’ EP.
This year, she teamed up with heavy metal band Ice Nine Kills for ‘Twisting the Knife’, an official collaboration tied to ‘Scream 7’. She has also been working on new music, including her single ‘Ugly and Rotten’, as she steps into a new creative chapter in her 20s.
Mckenna Grace stuns in red on the #AcademyMuseumGala carpet https://t.co/vYdizZmelz
— Variety (@Variety) 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. Grace joined a guest list that included Taylor Swift, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Chloë Grace Moretz and Grace Gummer.
With a growing slate of film roles, new music and a fast-evolving fashion sense, Grace is clearly hitting her stride. Her red-carpet gala moment was another sign that she’s ready for the next stage of her career.
Which Mckenna Grace red carpet look do you prefer?
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