Traveling for art is a culturally rewarding way to collect memories. After missing a major exhibition by a day once, I now always check museum calendars before booking flights. 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for fashion exhibitions worldwide, from Paris and London to Milan, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Berlin, and New York. Below are ten shows worth planning a trip around.
Azzedine Alaïa’s Dior Collection
Dates: now until March 3, 2026
Address: Azzedine Alaïa Foundation, 18 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris, France
This exhibition highlights Alaïa’s lifelong admiration for Dior. The Galerie Dior will, for the first time, present 100 looks from Alaïa’s private collection, spanning pieces by Christian Dior and his successors and showing how they influenced Alaïa’s couture.
The Gentleman — Style and Jewellery for Men
Dates: now until September 27, 2026
Address: Palazzo Morando, Costume Moda Immagine, Via Sant’Andrea 6, 20121 Milan, Italy
At the heart of Milan’s fashion district, this show explores the cultural and symbolic evolution of men’s jewelry from the 17th century to the present. Timed around Milan Men’s Fashion Week, it’s a deep dive into masculine adornment and style through the ages.
Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles
Dates: now until June 12, 2026
Address: The William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Rd, London E17 4PP, United Kingdom
Celebrating Liberty’s 150th anniversary and the gallery’s 75th, this exhibition focuses on female textile designers at Liberty—from May Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement to contemporary designers—using garments, fabrics, and photographs to inspire new generations.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
Dates: March 28 to November 1, 2026
Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom
A major V&A survey of Elsa Schiaparelli’s surrealist couture and the current house under Daniel Roseberry. Expect garments shown alongside the artworks that inspired them; the V&A’s fashion exhibitions often sell out, so book ahead.
The Antwerp Six
Dates: March 28, 2026 to January 17, 2027
Address: MoMu Amsterdam, Hobbemastraat 1, 1071 ZD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The first major exhibition devoted to the designers who put Antwerp on the fashion map—Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee—tracing their early work and lasting influence.
Vivienne Westwood: Rebel — Storyteller — Visionary
Dates: March 28 to September 6, 2026
Address: The Bowes Museum, Newgate, Barnard Castle DL12 8NP, United Kingdom
An unofficial show assembled with private collectors, charting Westwood’s journey from punk provocateur to visionary couturier. The Bowes’ theatrical setting complements displays of deconstructed digital pieces alongside original garments.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style
Dates: April 10 to October 18, 2026
Address: The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom
A comprehensive survey marking the centenary of the Queen’s birth, featuring garments from infancy through her wedding dress and coronation gown, plus correspondence revealing her involvement in wardrobe decisions. One ticket grants continuous re-entry for a year.
Costume Art (The Costume Institute)
Dates: May 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027
Address: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States
The Costume Institute’s show inaugurates the Met’s new central fashion space and investigates relationships between art and dress, pairing paintings and sculpture with 18th-century garments and contemporary runway looks. Notable is Renata Buzzo’s “Corset Anatomia.”
Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity
Dates: June 14 to October 25, 2026
Address: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, United States
Charting Chinese women’s dress from early 20th-century robes to the popularized cheongsam of the 1960s, this vibrant LACMA show displays over 70 garments on bespoke mannequins by Jason Wu, highlighting silk, color, and craftsmanship.
Many Shades of Grès: Fashion Becomes Art
Dates: May 15 to October 11, 2026
Address: Kulturforum, Matthäikirchplatz, 10785 Berlin, Germany
A joint exhibition presenting the work of Parisian couturier Madame Grès, famed for sculptural pleated gowns inspired by classical statuary. The show focuses on her later career and resilience through wartime disruption, offering an alternative cultural itinerary in Berlin.
These ten exhibitions offer a global snapshot of fashion’s past, present, and artistic conversations. Check dates and book tickets in advance—must-see shows often sell out.
