Cut-outs and plunging V-necks dominated the green carpet at the 2026 Olivier Awards, as stars marked the ceremony’s 50th anniversary in bold, body-contouring silhouettes at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Nominees including Cate Blanchett and Rosamund Pike, and there were appearances from stage greats including Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Helen Mirren, as Nick Mohammed hosted the evening celebrating the best of British theatre.
But alongside the accolades, there were clear fashion trends emerging on the carpet, with those plunging necklines and cut-outs leading the charge.
Cate Blanchett, nominated for her role in The Seagull, opted for a black Lanvin gown featuring cold shoulders and diamond-shaped cut-outs at the hips. The look set the tone for a night where celebrities played with structure and exposure in equal measure.
Rosamund Pike, who won best actress for her role in Inter Alia, embraced the scarf dress trend in a midnight-blue silk dress by Christian Dior, featuring a draped V-neckline and fringed hem.
Elizabeth Hurley arrived with her son Damian and partner Billy Ray Cyrus, coordinating in white.
Hurley wore a Zuhair Murad gown with a plunging V-neck and cinched waist, while Damian opted for a silk trouser suit with a cross necklace, and Cyrus kept to his signature all-black look with layered jewellery and sunglasses.
Radio and television presenter Anita Rani also leaned into the look in a sheer brown gown by London-based label ASAR, featuring a V-neck cut out and feather-trimmed skirt that caught the breeze as she walked the carpet.
Bryan Cranston, nominated for All My Sons, attended alongside co-star Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who wore a black V-neck gown with subtle silver stud detailing, accessorised with Chaumet jewellery.
Tom Hiddleston, nominated for Much Ado About Nothing, arrived with his partner Zawe Ashton, who made a statement in a vibrant red-tiered tulle gown with a plunging neckline, adding some volume and drama to the evening’s prevailing trend.
Rachel Zegler, who won best actress in a musical for Evita, nodded to Elizabeth Hurley’s iconic Versace safety-pin dress in a black chain-embellished gown by Tamara Ralph, featuring a sharply plunging neckline and intricate gold detailing.
Ambika Mod offered a tailored take on the trend, wearing a double-breasted Paul Smith suit styled with a spotted tie and a Tasaki pearl brooch, reinterpreting the V-neck through sharp suiting.
Monica Barbaro’s cream and black Roberto Cavalli gown featured a zig-zag drop waist and a softly draped neckline, giving a more relaxed interpretation of the V-neck.
Elsewhere, writer of Paddington: The Musical Jessica Swale shimmered in a gold V-neck gown, while Dame Helen Mirren opted for a refined V-neck shirt dress by Patrick McDowell as she presented alongside Sir Ian McKellen.
Across the board, celebrities returned to cut-outs and plunging V-necks to refresh familiar red carpet silhouettes at this year’s ceremony.
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