The Best 2026 Emmys Manicures From 'No-Mani' Looks To Ultimate Nail Glam

The 2026 Emmys on September 14, 2026, were a bounty of beauty and style inspiration. But of all the makeup, hair, and styling wins, the manicures were one of the most interesting details of the night. Neutral nails were the most popular style, with host Mariska Hargitay's 'no-mani' 2026 Emmys nails proving that minimal can still be glam. Hargitay's simple minimal nails come shortly after both Pamela Anderson and Kate Middleton proved that the no-manicure manicure is the hottest nail look in 2026. It's all about the minimalist manicure. 

Hargitay and other stars set the tone with simple manicures at the Emmys, giving space for the dress and makeup to shine. Indeed, barely-there manicure and pedicure colors are proving to be the on-trend nail look that goes with everything. While the "no-mani" look ruled the night, other stars ditched minimalism in favor of bold nail glam. Many celebrity manicurists shared their work on Instagram from the 2026 Emmys, and in some cases they even revealed the exact products they used, so many of the best manicures from the Emmys are easy to recreate or just appreciate. 

Chase Infiniti looked fantastic at the 2026 Emmys in a beaded mermaid dress by Louis Vuitton. To complement the copper tone of her gown, celebrity manicurist Mel Shengaris used the color Dune by The Gel Bottle. 

The sheer, light brown shade was an elevated neutral and kept the focus on Infiniti's extravagant gown. Shengaris kept the nails trimmed and short, keeping them low-maintenance and natural as they followed the soft curve of Infiniti's fingertips. 

Sarah Pidgeon attended the 2026 Emmys after being nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for playing Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in FX's "Love Story." For the occasion, she wore a lavender Chanel gown. In keeping with the minimalism of her famous character, Pidgeon kept her nails simple. 

Celebrity manicurist Iram Shelton shared that she used The Gel Bottle's BIAB polish in 17, famous for its milky nude tone. "Two thin coats, cured between each, locked in with top coat and that's genuinely it," Shelton wrote on Instagram of her process on Pidgeon's gorgeous nails. 

Selena Gomez was a golden star at the 2026 Emmys, and her decadent manicure amplified the stunning effect. Celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik explained Gomez's manicure on Instagram and how he got that shine on her long oval nails. 

Starting with two coats of Essie's Frost Yourself, Bachik then polished off the manicure with Essie's Top Coat to add extra shine. He added cuticle oil to keep Gomez's nails looking healthy and glowing. 

Actor and comedian Ayo Edebiri attended the 2026 Emmys in a custom Chanel dress in powder blue, with a substantial bow at the back in orange. She wore a signature pearl ring on her middle finger, and in keeping with the pearl effect, celebrity manicurist Eri Ishizu gave Edebiri a milky white ombre manicure with a touch of pearlescent silver. She kept Edebiri's nails long and oval, thus elongating her fingers and giving her a soft feminine finish to her stunning look.

Quinta Brunson of "Abbott Elementary" was a vision in white at the 2026 Emmys, opting for a slim fitting silk gown in a bright shade of cream. In keeping with this look, Brunson kept her nails long and simple, with a little touch of dazzle. 

Celebrity manicurist Temeka Jackson described her process on Instagram. She did an ombre airbush nail design on Brunson in a milky white, while adding a few flecks of gold accent on certain nails.

Odessa A'Zion was edgy and bold at the 2026 Emmys and her manicure only amplified this energy. Wearing a black velvet pantsuit with exaggeratedly long string detailing, A'Zion kept her jacket unzipped to add a crop-like effect to the top. This drew attention to her hands, which she placed on her hips, giving a full view of her very nostalgic manicure. A'Zion rocked early-2000s French tips in a long square shape, keeping things simple and classic.

Niecy Nash was the goddess in red at the 2026 Emmys. She wore a strapless cherry red gown with a dramatic train, as her hair cascaded in loose curls. Nash's manicure was equally as dazzling. Opting for stiletto nails that tapered into a sharp point, Nash's velvet pink polish offered a softer mirroring of her red dress. She added extra sparkle with delicate rhinestone decals that helped her manicure stand out and continued the sparkle that shone from her jewelry.

Julia Garner kept things very minimal at the 2026 Emmys, but her manicure wasn't a "no-mani" manicure. Instead, she went for a very nude nail shade. The look was crafted by celebrity manicurist Betina Goldstein. 

To keep with Garner's soft blush rose look, Goldstein used Chanel's Le Vernis polish in shade Coco, followed by Chanel's Le Gel Top Coat. Goldstein styled Garner's nails in long dramatic oval shapes to add a final flourish. 

Megan Stalter went as a gold life-sized Emmy statue – because why not? To keep things consistent, she opted for a gold manicure. Celebrity nail artist Sonya Meesh described the process on Instagram. 

Meesh explained that she used several different Essie shades, starting with Essie's Good as Gold polish. "We wanted to go for a nude nail that blends with her skin tone," Meesh noted, saying that she used two coats of gel and finished it off with a coat of Essie's Crushed Gold to make the manicure dazzle. 

"The Pitt" star Isa Briones went for a Greek goddess look at the 2026 Emmys with an elaborate green vintage Prada dress featuring delicate black beading along her neckline. To accent the metallic tones in the gown, Briones styled for herself a charcoal matte manicure to match. She wore her nails in a long oval length to add to the mystical effect. And the dark nail polish color picked up the black lace touches in the gown.