Top 7 Fashion Exhibitions to Visit in 2026
Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior: Two Masters of Couture
When: December 1, 2025 – May 24, 2026
Where: Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Paris
Why: Over 100 pieces from Azzedine Alaïa's private collection, highlighting his admiration for Christian Dior's "New Look" and exploring the dialogue between the two couturiers. In 1956, upon arriving in Paris, Alaïa undertook a brief four-day internship with Dior, immersing himself in the atmosphere of a fashion house and witnessing the creation of a collection.
Westwood | Kawakubo
When: 7 December 2025 – 19 April 2026
Where: National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) – Melbourne
Why: Showcasing over 140 designs that explore the convergences and divergences between two rule-breaking designers. Both self-taught and independent, British designer Vivienne Westwood (1941–2022) and Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo (b. 1942) of Comme des Garçons demonstrated uncompromising originality anchored in a desire for personal freedom and social and aesthetic change. Their critically acclaimed collections are celebrated globally for questioning conventions of taste, gender and beauty, while challenging the very form and function of clothing.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
When: 21 March – 1 November 2026
Where: Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)
Why: An opportunity to see some of Elsa Schiaparelli’s most iconic designs, including the V&A’s own “Skeleton” and “Tears” dresses created in collaboration with Salvador Dalí. The exhibition will trace the full history of the Maison, highlighting how Daniel Roseberry’s contemporary creations draw on Schiaparelli’s pioneering legacy. Featuring new research, it will also shed light on the London branch, its independent clientele, and the founder’s personal involvement in this overlooked satellite location.
The Antwerp Six
When: 31 March 2026 to 17 January 2027
Where: The Fashion Museum Antwerp (MoMu) Antwerp
Why: The first major exhibition devoted to six iconic fashion designers who all studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and went on to lead highly influential solo careers. In 1986, the six Belgian designers—Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene and Marina Yee—rented a van to travel to the British Designer Show in London, handing out flyers until a major buyer from Barneys took notice. Dubbed by the press the Antwerp Six, each designer had a distinct signature style, though their avant-garde aesthetic was characterised by deconstruction and asymmetry, along with minimalist colour palettes.
Shalom Harlow in the final look for Alexander McQueen's No. 13 collection (Spring/Summer 1999) © Robert Fairer
Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show
When: 3 April 2026–17 January 2027
Where: V&A Dundee
Why: Tracing the dramatic evolution of catwalk presentations, from the private salons of the late 19th century to today’s immersive, live-streamed runway experiences. This exhibition is transfering from Vitra Design Museum (see other story below)
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style
When: Spring to autumn 2026.
Where: The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London
Why: From birth to adulthood, princess to queen, and off-duty style to diplomatic dressing on the global stage—the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of the late Queen's fashion. The exhibition includes design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence that reveal the behind-the-scenes process of dressing the most famous woman in the world and the Queen's close involvement in creating her wardrobe.
Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity
When: June 14–October 25, 2026
Where: LACMA, Los Angeles
Why: Charting the evolution of Chinese women’s dress, from loose-fitting embroidered robes of the late Qing Dynasty to the sleek silhouettes of 1930s qipao and the globally iconic cheongsam of the 1960s. Vibrant colours, sumptuous silks, and intricate trims showcase the meticulous craftsmanship that is the hallmark of these garments.
