10 fashion exhibitions to put on your agenda for 2026

The fashion world will always surprise us, with innovations and trends, with new colors codes and innovative fabrics. But, to understand the actual trends, we all need to see what was going on in the history of fashion. And what better way could be than putting in the agenda the most lovable 10 fashion exhibitions to see in 2026? 

(Photo up: Vogue 1936; Two models wearing dresses by Schiaparelli (Photo by Cecil Beaton, Condé Nast via Getty Images – V&A Museum)

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1. “Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art” at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (28 March – 1 November 2026)

It is a huge 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 fashion house, highlighting how Daniel Roseberry’s contemporary creations draw on Schiaparelli’s pioneering legacy. 

2. “The Antwerp Six”, at The Fashion Museum Antwerp (MoMu), Antwerp (31 March 2026 – 17 January 2027)

It is, probably, the first major exhibition dedicated to six iconic fashion designers who changed the world of fashion. They all studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and they all went on to well-known solo careers. But, in 1986, 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. They were the Antwerp Six, each designer had a distinct signature style, but their aesthetic was characterized by deconstruction and asymmetry, minimalist color palettes. (https://www.momu.be/en/)

3. “Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait” at the National Portrait Gallery, London (4 June – 6 September 2026)

She had a particular style, that is for sure. And that means, in celebration of the Hollywood star’s 100th birthday and in association with the Marilyn Monroe estate, the exhibition “Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait” will explore the life, career and legacy of Marilyn Monroe through portraits created by some of the greatest photographers and artists. Names include Andy Warhol, Pauline Boty, Marlene Dumas, Cecil Beaton, Philippe Halsman, Eve Arnold, Inge Morath, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Milton Greene, Richard Avedon and George Barris. The exhibition will also include personal belongings such as books, scripts and clothes to enrich understanding of the woman behind the image. (https://www.npg.org.uk/)

4. “NIGO: From Japan with Love” at the Design Museum, London (1 May – 4 October 2026)

It is the first UK exhibition of Japanese designer and creative director NIGO (Tomoaki Nagao). Maybe you know him as founder of the cool brand A Bathing Ape and, in the ‘90s, or currently Creative Director of KENZO. From street style to music and beyond, the exhibition is showcasing his multifaceted creative work, alongside vintage objects and traditional crafts from his personal collection. Working across street style, fashion, music, and more, NIGO has been behind some of the most influential designs, ideas and trends in recent streetwear and fashion history. (https://designmuseum.org/)

5. “Westwood / Kawakubo”, at National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Melbourne (7 December 2025 – 19 April 2026)

Two rule-breakers: Westwood & Kawakubo are displayed, together, in Melbourne. Showcasing over 140 designs, the exhibition explores the convergences and divergences between the two designers, celebrated globally for questioning conventions of taste, gender and beauty, while challenging the very form and function of clothing. 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. (https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/)

6. “Many Shades of Grès” at the Museum of Decorative Arts, Berlin (5 May – 22 November 2026)

Maybe not so famous nowadays, storied couturier and costume designer Madame Grès will be the subject of a Berlin show, bringing her work to a German audience for the first time. Draping, pleating and interesting construction of clothes – those were the main characteristics that defined Madame Grès work. With a particular focus on garments from the 1960s to the 1980s, the exhibition in Berlin is an opportunity to dive into a rarefied world, and see in person the clothes that made Madame Grès one of France’s most successful and influential designers. (smb.museum)

7. “Costume Art” at the Met Costume Institute, New York (10 May 2026 – 10 January 2027)

The Costume Institute’s annual spring exhibition will be held for the first time in the Met’s vast new Galleries. 2026’s exhibition is titled “Costume Art” and will explore the varied, intimate ways in which clothing affects the body and vice versa. Objects and artworks from the Met’s wider collections are paired with garments from the Costume Institute. (metmuseum.org)

8. “The 90s at Tate Britain”, London (1 October 2026 – 14 February 2027)

Curated by former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, this Tate Britain exhibition will explore the 1990s as “a new dawn of optimism, freedom and rebellion” and the creative talents that emerged during the decade. The designers: Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan and photography by the likes of Corinne Day and David Sims. (tate.org.uk)

9. “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style” at The King’s Gallery, London (10 April – 18 October 2026)

How does a queen’s wardrobe look like? Well, we can discover the remarkable style of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch through clothing worn in all ten decades of her life – from birth to adulthood, from princess to queen, and from off-duty style to dressing for the global stage for momentous occasions in Britain’s history. Featuring approximately 200 items, many on display for the first time, alongside clothing, jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories. (https://www.rct.uk/) 

10. “Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior: Two Masters of Couture”, Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Paris (December 1, 2025 – May 24, 2026)

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 (https://fondationazzedinealaia.org/) – MORE about this exhibition, here, on the link.

Photography: courtesy of museum archives.