Gracie Abrams and Paul Mescal Mark Red Carpet Debut With a Kiss at the BAFTAs

At the 2026 British Academy Film Awards at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London, gracie abrams and Paul Mescal made an official red carpet appearance that ended with Abrams kissing Mescal on the cheek. The outing — described as their red carpet debut — came nearly two years after they were first seen together and followed an earlier appearance at a London screening of Paul McCartney - Man on The Run.

Gracie Abrams’s Chanel choice and styling

Gracie Abrams turned to her longstanding fashion house relationship for the BAFTAs, selecting a Chanel dress from Matthieu Blazy’s 2026 Métiers d’art collection. The artist, described as a longtime ambassador of the French label, wore a black sleeveless dress trimmed with teal-blue beading and embellished with aquatic motifs in varying shades of red and brown. The gown’s open back highlighted her extra-short bob and long diamond earrings; she kept accessories minimal with a statement diamond ring and black pointy-toe heels and matched her nails to the dress with deep-brown polish.

Paul Mescal’s nomination, past win and red carpet details

Mescal arrived in a black Prada suit as a nominee tonight for Hamnet, up for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and he has a past BAFTA win — the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor in 2021 for his work on Normal People. For photos at the Royal Festival Hall he left his jacket unbuttoned, kept the collar of his white dress shirt open and folded over the cuffs for a relaxed look. At points on the carpet the pair laughed and gazed at one another, with Paul resting his hand on Gracie’s lower back.

From first sightings to a second red carpet outing

The BAFTAs marked a milestone in the couple’s public timeline: Harpering the moment as their official red carpet debut nearly two years after they were first seen together, while earlier coverage noted they have been dating publicly since 2024. They had made a red carpet appearance earlier in the week at a London screening of Paul McCartney - Man on The Run, making the BAFTAs their second foray onto the red carpet together and a more glamorous affair.

Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and other arrivals at the Royal Festival Hall

Other notable arrivals at the BAFTAs included Timothée Chalamet, who is nominated in the Leading Actor category for Marty Supreme and walked the carpet alone. Kylie Jenner joined him inside the ceremony, donning a black dress to match his suit; inside she wore her dark hair long and straight and held tightly onto Timothée’s hand. The evening also saw the attendance of Prince William and Princess Kate.

Couples, nominees and fashion highlights across the ceremony

The red carpet featured a string of pairs and nominees: Song Sung Blue actress Kate Hudson and her musician husband Danny Fujikawa, together for almost a decade, held hands as they arrived; Hudson wore a statement-making backless red gown with a billowing skirt while Fujikawa looked suave in his suit. Bugonia star Jesse Plemons, nominated for Leading Actor, shared a joke with Kirsten Dunst, who attended to support her husband. White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood posed with her actor boyfriend Adam Long. Rose Byrne is nominated in the Leading Actress category for her role in If I Had Legs I'd Kicked you, with her husband Bobby Cannavale at her side; Byrne channelled a Disney Princess in a lemon yellow dress with glittering detail. Milly Alcock and her boyfriend Joseph Powell appeared in fashionable suits and were singled out as a standout couple on the carpet.

Additional fashion and pop-culture headlines mentioned from the night

Other headlines and moments cited around the ceremony included: Jessie Buckley Wins Big at the BAFTAs in Chanel; Kylie Jenner Brings the Bling to the 2026 BAFTAs; Prince William and Princess Kate Attend the BAFTAs; All the Red-Carpet Looks From the 2026 BAFTAs; Margot Robbie Wears the Charlotte Brontë Bracelet; Rosé Makes Grammys History in a Black-and-White Gown; All the Looks From the 2026 Grammy Awards; Miley Cyrus’s Gown Has the Most Dramatic Neckline; Charli XCX Presents at the Golden Globes; Jessie Buckley Makes Her Golden Globes Debut; and Ariana Grande Brings Back Her Signature Ponytail.