The global fashion landscape is currently witnessing a rare convergence of history and innovation, and the public now have access to some of the most rare pieces in the world.

Throughout 2026, the world’s leading cultural institutions are opening their vaults to reveal the artistry behind the industry’s most iconic figures. In Paris, a dual-site exhibition explores the shared DNA between Christian Dior and Azzedine Alaïa, while London prepares to celebrate the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II and the avant-garde spirit of Elsa Schiaparelli. Meanwhile, in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is literally expanding its horizons with a massive new space dedicated to the evolution of the dressed body.

These are the essential sartorial stops for your 2026 cultural calendar.

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Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior: Two Masters of Couture

Dates at Galerie Dior: From November 20, 2025 - May 3, 2026
Dates at Fondation Azzedine Alaïa: From December 15, 2025 to May 24, 2026
Locations: Fondation Azzedine Alaïa at 18 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris, France and La Galerie Dior, 11 Rue François 1er, 75008 Paris, France

Galerie Dior Paris

La Galerie Dior @galeriediorparis abre una muestra que revela la conexión silenciosa entre Chris (1)

The exhibition Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior: Two Masters of Haute Couture brings together nearly 70 designs to foster a subtle dialogue between these two titans of fashion. By pairing archival Dior pieces from the 1950s with creations from Alaïa’s own meticulously curated foundation, the display reveals striking similarities in their silhouettes, colour palettes, and ornamental inspirations. Despite the decades that separate their careers, these curated pairings attest to a timeless shared vision, proving how both couturiers naturally mastered the intersection of historical elegance and modern design.

A reciprocal admission partnership has been agreed, with Galerie Dior will offer reduced admission at €12 upon presentation of a ticket from the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation. Whilst the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation will offer reduced admission at €7 upon presentation of a ticket from the Galerie Dior.

@fondationazzedinealaia
Book your ticket for Fondation Azzedine Alaia here

galeriedior.com
Book your ticket for La Galerie Dior here

Costume Art

Dates: From May 10, 2026 - January 10, 2027
Location: The Costume Institute at The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028

Matteo Prandoni:BFA.com

The "Anatomical Body" and the "Mortal Body" at The Met. Matteo Prandoni:BFA.com

Matteo Prandoni:BFA.com

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In line with The Annual Met Gala on Monday, May 4, the Costume Institute’s Spring 2026 exhibition, Costume Art, serves as the grand debut for the Met’s new 12,000-square-foot galleries adjacent to the Great Hall. By pairing historic garments with artworks from prehistory to the present, the exhibition explores the profound relationship between the dressed body and artistic expression across a spectrum of political, aesthetic, and conceptual themes. These curated pairings are organised by enduring "body types," revealing how the intersection of fashion and art has remained a universal language through centuries of Western culture.

The exhibit is free to visit with Museum admission
More details here
@metcostumeinstitute

Gianni Versace Retrospective

Dates: Until March 1, 2026
Location: Arches London Bridge, 8 Bermondsey St, London SE1 2ER, United Kingdom

Vogue College of Fashion

Gianni Versace Retrospective via vogue college of fashion 2

Vogue College of Fashion

Gianni Versace Retrospective via vogue college of fashion

The Gianni Versace Retrospective showcase is the largest exhibition of the legendary designer’s work ever staged in the UK, featuring over 450 original vintage pieces. This career-defining showcase spans the "Golden Era" of 1988 to 1997, highlighting iconic looks once worn by fashion royalty like Princess Diana, Naomi Campbell, and Elton John. Through 21 curated collections, visitors can explore the fearless fusion of neo-baroque prints, pop art, and provocative tailoring that transformed fashion into a global cultural phenomenon

Book your tickets here
@arches.londonbridge

Marie Antoinette Style

Dates: Until March 22, 2026
Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom

Dates: From August 1 - November 23, 2026
Location: Yokohama Museum of Art, 3-4-1 Minatomirai, Nishi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

© Photo: CC0 Paris Musées Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris

© Photo: CC0 Paris Musées Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris

Sponsored by Manolo Blahnik, this exhibition dives into the enduring legacy of history’s most stylish yet ill-fated queen through a definitive collection spanning over 250 years of design, film, and fine art. This popular exhibition explores how Marie Antoinette’s youth and notoriety forged a timeless fashion icon whose complex influence continues to shape the worlds of couture and pop culture today.

Book your tickets here for V&A
@vamuseum

More details about Yokohama exhibit here
@yokohama_museum_of_art

Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art

Dates: From March 28, 2026
Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom

V&A

Schiaperelli at the V and A London 2

V&A

Schiaperelli at the V and A London 1

Opening Saturday, 28 March 2026, the V&A’s landmark exhibition Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art marks the first time a major UK retrospective has been dedicated to the Italian couturier’s radical legacy. Staged in the museum’s Sainsbury Gallery, the show features over 200 objects — including the iconic "Skeleton" and "Tears" dresses — highlighting Elsa Schiaparelli’s legendary collaborations with Surrealist masters like Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. The narrative traces the house’s journey from its 1920s Parisian origins to its modern-day revival under Daniel Roseberry, whose viral, sculptural designs continue to bridge the gap between high fashion and fine art.

Ticket booking and details to come
@vamuseum

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style

Dates: From April 10 - October 18, 2026
Location: The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II London Exhibition Fashion 1

Queen Elizabeth II London Exhibition Fashion 2 .jpg

Marking the centenary of her birth, this definitive exhibition is the largest ever mounted, showcasing approximately 200 items that trace the late Queen’s style from her earliest years to her global reign. Featuring never-before-seen sketches and historic ensembles — including her iconic Coronation and wedding gowns — the usually private collection reveals the meticulous craftsmanship and personal involvement behind the wardrobe of the world’s most famous woman.

Buy your tickets here
@royalcollectiontrust

Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles

Dates: From October 18, 2025 - June 21, 2026
Location: Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Rd, London E17 4PP, United Kingdom

Morris Gallery

Liberty London 150 years morris gallery 1

Morris Gallery

Liberty London 150 years morris gallery 2

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the iconic design house, Women in Print: 150 Years of Liberty Textiles at the William Morris Gallery highlights the transformative role of women in shaping Britain’s textile history. Curated by William Morris Gallery's Rowan Bain and Róisín Inglesb, the exhibition showcases over 100 works, ranging from the legendary patterns of Althea McNish and Lucienne Day to previously overlooked designers whose creative innovations kept Liberty at the forefront of fashion. By pairing these historic archives with a forward-looking mentorship program, the showcase not only honours a century and a half of craftsmanship but also explores the future of female textile leadership in the UK.

Free admission (donations accepted)
More details here
@morrisgallery

must-visit-exhibitions