- SZA attended the 2026 Grammys in the audience wearing a plunging red gown with floral embroidery.
- She entered the night as a five-time nominee, including Record and Song of the Year for “luther.”
- Though she skipped the red carpet, cameras caught her seated near Trevor Noah and Bad Bunny during a skit.
- The appearance continues a selective but stylish run for SZA following Paris fashion week and the Super Bowl halftime show.
SZA’s Grammys appearance: a red dress moment
SZA returned to the Grammy Awards onstage and in the audience at the 68th GRAMMYs, making a quiet but memorable fashion statement. Although she didn’t walk the red carpet, the singer-songwriter was spotted in the crowd wearing a plunging red gown adorned with floral embroidery during a televised skit. Photographers captured the moment as she sat behind hosts and performers, creating a headline-making contrast to her usually low-key carpet approach.
Five nominations, including major categories
At the 2026 Grammys, SZA was nominated in five categories. Her single “luther” earned nods for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, plus Best Melodic Rap Performance. She also received nominations for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Crybaby” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “30 For 30.” The nominations underline her continued presence in both mainstream and R&B circles.
Where she was seen and who she sat near
Although absent from red-carpet photo reels, SZA appeared in the audience during the broadcast and was notably visible behind host Trevor Noah and performer Bad Bunny during a sketch. Fans and outlets shared photos and posts on X highlighting the look. View the posts here:
Fashion: selective appearances and menswear moments
Fashion has been a deliberate part of SZA’s public return. Earlier in the season she attended Paris men’s shows for Louis Vuitton and Dior, favoring tailored blazers and button-downs. Onstage, she’s used bold, monochromatic looks — including a red ensemble during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show — to extend her performance identity into fashion.
Past reflections and public persona
Despite confident public moments, SZA has spoken about anxiety and the pressures of fame in past interviews. Her candid reflections remind fans that high-profile appearances — whether a red carpet or a single seat in the audience — are part of a larger and often complicated relationship with visibility.
For more coverage and photos from the night, see ELLE’s full gallery and the related social posts linked above. You can also find additional video content on ELLE’s YouTube channel: ELLE on YouTube.
Image Referance: https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a70200539/sza-red-carpet-photos-grammy-awards-2026/