Fashion exhibitions 2026: 5 major events in Europe and New York

This is an extensive retrospective dedicated to Elsa Schiaparelli. The exhibition covers the period from the revolutionary 1920s to the contemporary revival of the fashion house under the artistic direction of Daniel Roseberry. The exhibition explores how Schiaparelli's surrealist codes have stood the test of time and how Roseberry has successfully transformed the historical archive into one of the most coveted brands in the ultra-luxury sector. It is a case study of how art becomes the highest form of marketing.

2. Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary

• Location: The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Wielka Brytania
• Dates: 28 March – 6 September 2026

The most ambitious of Westwood's exhibitions to date at The Bowes Museum, created in collaboration with private collectors (including Peter Smithson). It focuses on the period from the early 1980s to the 2000s. The exhibition offers a unique insight into the creative process through the presentation of dressmaking patterns (calico toiles) and digitally deconstructed garments. It shows the evolution from punk rebellion to a masterful reinterpretation of historical costume. Importantly, this is an independent curatorial project, not a collaboration with the brand, which guarantees an objective view of the designer's legacy.

3. The Antwerp Six: 40 Years of Innovation

• Location: MoMu (ModeMuseum), Antwerpia, Belgia
• Dates: 28 March 2026 – 17 January 2027

MoMu celebrates the 40th anniversary of the breakthrough achieved by the Antwerp Six. In 1986, a group of six designers (Bikkembergs, Demeulemeester, Van Beirendonck, Van Noten, Van Saene, Yee) revolutionised the industry during shows in London. The exhibition analyses the phenomenon that enabled a niche group of graduates from the Antwerp Academy to put their city firmly on the map of global fashion capitals. It is a story of how a shared identity and uncompromising creativity can challenge Parisian hegemony.

May 2026: Inauguration of the New Space at The Met

4. Costume Art

• Location: The Met Fifth Avenue (Gallery 099), Nowy Jork
• Dates: 10 May 2026 – 10 January 2027

The Costume Institute's spring exhibition opens a new chapter in the museum's history – it is the inaugural exhibition in a new space covering nearly 1,100 m² (12,000 sq. ft). It juxtaposes clothing with works of art from The Met's vast collections, from prehistory to the present day. The aim is to reveal the relationship between clothing and the body in political, aesthetic and symbolic terms. Placing fashion alongside painting and sculpture in such a prestigious space is the ultimate confirmation of fashion's status as a fully-fledged field of high art.

October 2026: Nostalgia and Optimism at Tate Britain

5. The 90s

• Location: Tate Britain, Londyn
• Dates: 1 October 2026 – 14 February 2027

Curated by Edward Enninful, the exhibition explores the 1990s as an era of optimism, freedom and rebellion. Works by Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Hussein Chalayan will be shown alongside photographs by Corinne Day and David Sims. It is an analysis of the forces that have shaped contemporary visual culture. The exhibition fits perfectly with the current fascination with retro-90s trends, providing a substantive background for today's design decisions by luxury brands.

These exhibitions not only celebrate beauty, but above all systematise knowledge about the market, craftsmanship and strategy. The designer's legacy is no longer just a memory – in 2026, it becomes his most enduring financial asset.