Sundance Film Festival 2026: Celebrity red carpet appearances and more
The Sundance Film Festival is underway, with celebrities, high-profile people, and fans welcoming the art and film we’ll be raving about over the course of the year.
Read on to see what’s happening on the ground.
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Olivia Wilde and Natalie Portman make a subtle statement
Celebrities such as Olivia Wilde and Natalie Portman are using their platforms to bring attention to the atrocities being committed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the January 24 shooting and killing of nurse Alex Pretti and January 4 shooting and killing of Renée Good, both Minneapolis anti-ICE protesters.
Wilde, who was promoting her film The Invite, wore an “ICE OUT” pin in support of the anti-ICE movement and spoke to Variety about the tragedies.
“We’re all here getting to celebrate something really beautiful and hopeful in film storytelling,” she told the outlet, “But the world is hurting right now, and this country is hurting. And it’s appalling.”
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“We can’t go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being murdered,” Wilde continued.
“I don’t want to normalise seeing people being murdered on the internet, on film. It’s hideous.
“And so, if we can do anything out here to support the movement to cast ICE out, to delegitimise this unbelievably criminal organisation, then that’s what we should be doing.”
She was joined in her movement by Natalie Portman, who also donned the pin and spoke to Variety about her thoughts on the protests.
The actress, who was at the festival to promote her film The Gallerist, told Variety America is “at a moment in our country’s history that is quite devastating. It’s really impossible not to talk about what is happening right now and the brutality of ICE and how it has to stop immediately.
“But also, there’s a beautiful community that Americans are showing right now. They’re showing up for each other, protecting each other and fighting for their freedom.
“It’s a bittersweet moment to celebrate something we’re so proud of on the backdrop of our nation in pain.”
Alexander Skarsgard’s quirky fashion choices
Actor Alexander Skarsgard committed to the bit with his ensemble as he promotes his new film The Moment alongside Charli XCX.
One of his latest looks paid tribute to the recently departed designer Valentino, wearing a look from the designer’s pre-fall 2026 collection head to toe – quite literally.
He wore an oversized beige trench coat, a mustard and khaki panelled track jacket, and a floral shirt and tie paired with pleated suit trousers.
And if that cacophany wasn’t enough, he topped off the outfit with a pair of studded Valentino flip flops, baring his toes despite the harsh winter and snow in Utah.
Charli XCX leaves brat behind
The brat era is well and truly over, with Charli XCX moving forward with not one, not two, but roles in three films at the esteemed festival.
The 33-year-old is booked and busy at the festival, juggling events and appearances for her roles in Aidan Zamiri directed film The Moment, Gregg Araki-directed I Want Your Sex and Cathy Yan’s The Gallerist.
During a Q&A for The Moment, she said, “Right now, I’m like – like me in the film – I’m really wanting Brat to stop.
“I think for all of us as artists, it’s like, you wanna challenge yourself and you wanna totally switch the creative soup that you’re in and go and live in a different bowl for a while or whatever, you know?
“I really just want to work with these incredible directors like Aidan, Gregg Araki, Cathy Yan, like who I feel like I can just live completely different lives with.”
Prince Harry and Meghan make a rare appearance
In a return to her Hollywood roots, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, 44, looked right at home alongside Prince Harry, 41, at the premiere showing for documentary film Cookie Queens at the Sundance Film Festival.
The pair were seen posing alongside various members of Cookie Queen’s cast and crew in an additional appearance the following day, including director Alysa Nahmias and the young ‘Cookie Queens’ in question.
And as it turns out, the Duke and Duchess played a key role in bringing their story to our screens
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Meghan acknowledged how “privileged” she and Prince Harry felt to board the project as executive producers.
Reflecting on her involvement, Meghan – an ex-girl scout herself – said there’d been “many layers” to the documentary.
“What’s so special about the film is whether you were a Girl Scout or not, there is so much you can connect to and relate to, that is the beauty of how Alysa put this film together.”
“I’m just privileged that they gave me an opportunity and said yes to us and our Archewell Productions to come on. And for the past two years, my enthusiasm for this has finally come to light.”
The pair contributed to and funded the project through joint venture Archewell Philanthropies, their mixed for-profit and not-for-profit organisation that includes business divisions focused on media production.
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