The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills was the glittering epicentre of Hollywood glamour on Saturday night as the industry's elite gathered for the prestigious 2026 Directors Guild of America Awards. A constellation of stars, including the recently Oscar-nominated Kate Hudson, illuminated the red carpet, setting a high bar for style and sophistication at this annual celebration of cinematic excellence.
Kate Hudson's Show-Stopping Fashion Moment
All eyes were firmly fixed on Kate Hudson, who at 46 years old, commanded attention in a breathtaking navy blue off-the-shoulder gown. The curve-clinging ensemble was meticulously adorned with chunky rhinestone jewels, amplifying its overall glamour and creating a dazzling visual spectacle under the camera flashes. Hudson complemented her striking attire with a signature sandy blonde hairstyle, worn in an elegant half-up, half-down arrangement that perfectly showcased her delicate silver hoop earrings. Completing her red carpet look, the Almost Famous star confidently strutted in a pair of sophisticated navy blue open-toed heels, cementing her status as one of the evening's undisputed fashion icons.
Celebrating Directorial Excellence: The 2026 Winners
Beyond the sartorial splendour, the night was fundamentally a tribute to the visionary talents behind the camera. The DGA Awards honoured outstanding directorial achievements across a diverse spectrum of film and television categories, recognising the creative forces that shape contemporary storytelling.
Feature Film and Series Highlights
In the marquee category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film, the competition was fierce. The esteemed winners included:
- Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler for Sinners
- Guillermo Del Toro for Frankenstein
- Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme
- Chloé Zhao for Hamnet
The television categories showcased the depth of talent in serialised storytelling. For Dramatic Series, winners featured Liza Johnson for The Diplomat, Amanda Marsalis and John Wells for The Pitt, Janus Metz for Andor, and Ben Stiller for Severance. The Limited & Anthology Series category saw Jason Bateman recognised for Black Rabbit, alongside Antonio Campos, Lesli Linka Glatter, Shannon Murphy, and Ally Pankiw.
Recognising Diverse Genres and New Talent
The awards also celebrated excellence in other formats. In Comedy Series, directors like Lucia Aniello for Hacks, Janicza Bravo and Christopher Storer for The Bear, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg for The Studio, and Mike White for The White Lotus were honoured. The Michael Apted Award for first-time theatrical feature film directors highlighted emerging voices such as Hasan Hadi for The President's Cake and Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby.
Other notable categories included:
- Movies For Television: Winners included Jesse Armstrong, Stephen Chbosky, Scott Derrickson, Michael Morris, and Kyle Newacheck.
- Documentary Film: Honourees ranged from Mstyslav Chernov to Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus.
- Sports Direction: Matthew Gangl, Steve Milton, and Rich Russo were recognised for their work on major sporting events.
- Commercials: Directors like Kim Gehrig, Miles Jay, and Spike Jonze were awarded for their innovative advertising campaigns.
The 2026 DGA Awards successfully blended high fashion with high art, as Kate Hudson's stunning appearance on the red carpet provided a glamorous prelude to an evening dedicated to honouring the creative architects of the film and television industry. The comprehensive list of winners reflects the vibrant diversity and exceptional skill defining contemporary directing across all genres and formats.
