9 Exciting Fashion Exhibitions Coming To London In 2026 & 2027
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5 days ago
From the V&A's major Schiaparelli showcase to a royal wardrobe retrospective, these are the fashion exhibitions taking over London this year
Looking to get your culture fix in the capital? Give gallery hopping a stylish twist with a trip to one of these upcoming fashion exhibitions, set to take over London in 2026.
2026 Fashion Exhibitions To Book In London
Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell (courtesy of the Fashion and Textile Museum)
Paint! Pattern! Print! at the Fashion and Textile Museum
Following hot on the heels of Cosprop is Paint! Pattern! Print!, a brand new exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum dedicated to the work of Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell, the sister designer duo renowned for revolutionising textile design in the 1960s. The exhibition will explore their enduring impact on the industry, as well as their creative process – from brushstrokes to finished works – and how their designs translated into textiles, fashion and homeware.
When: 27 March – 13 September 2026
Where: Fashion and Textile Museum (83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF)
Tickets: Tickets from £12.65 (concessions available) | fashiontextilemuseum.org
Photo by the Victoria & Albert Museum
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at the V&A South Kensington
‘In difficult times fashion is always outrageous,’ said fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. And if ever a time was difficult, it would be now. Thankfully, outrageous design comes in spades at the V&A’s upcoming exhibition, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art. Set to open in spring 2026, this will mark the first exhibition ever staged in the UK devoted to the luxury label – as well as the first dedicated to the Italian designer behind it all. You can find out more about what to expect here, and read all about the curators’ highlights here.
When: 28 March – 1 November 2026
Where: V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL)
Tickets: Weekday tickets from £28 and weekend tickets from £30 (members go free) | vam.ac.uk
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dressed for Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960, by Sir Cecil Beaton (c) Cecil Beaton / Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at The King’s Gallery
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch was always something of a trendsetter – in every decade of her life – but soon we’ll be able to see just how big her sartorial impact was on the nation. The largest ever exhibition dedicated to the monarch’s style is coming to Buckingham Palace this spring, showcases her vibrant wardrobe of colourful suits, silk headscarves and tartan coats – as well as that iconic black handbag. You can find out more about what to expect here, and read all about the curator’s highlights here.
When: 10 April 2026 – 18 April 2027
Where: The King’s Gallery (Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA)
Tickets: Tickets from £22 | rct.uk
NIGO: From Japan with Love exhibition view (photo by Luke Hayes)
NIGO: From Japan with Love at the Design Museum
Those who know streetwear, know NIGO. The Japanese creative is one of the most influential voices in modern streetwear, setting the bar for many of the 21st century’s biggest trends. And in 2026, the Design Museum will host his first ever museum retrospective and exhibition outside of Japan. NIGO: From Japan with Love will chart the designer’s career from the 1990s in Harajuku, and the founding of streetwear brand A Bathing Ape, to his current role as Artistic Director at KENZO.
When: 1 May – 4 October 2026
Where: The Design Museum (224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG)
Tickets: Tickets from £19 (members go free) | designmuseum.org
Marilyn Monroe, by Cecil Beaton, bromide print, 1956. Collection: National Portrait Gallery, NPG #40269
Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery
The one woman who defined an entire era of Hollywood cinema? Marilyn Monroe. On what would be her 100th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery unveils a retrospective exhibition exploring the life, career and legacy of the most photographed woman in the world. Blending together artworks by the likes of Andy Warhol, Pauline Boty and Marlene Dumas with photographs by Cecil Beaton, Eve Arnold and Philippe Halsman, Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait will highlight the actress and model’s collaborative approach to image making.
When: 4 June – 6 September 2026
Where: National Portrait Gallery (St. Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE)
Tickets: Tickets from £25 (members go free) | npg.org.uk
The Burberry Trench: Crafting An Icon at The V&A South Kensington
Can’t wait until The Burberry Gallery opens at the V&A? Get a taste of what’s in store at the museum’s upcoming free display The Burberry Trench: Crafting An Icon – which will offer a snapshot of the history of the great British brand, told through its signature trench coat. And while not a full exhibition, it’s already flagged as one of the V&A’s must-see attractions this year, with a myriad of items from the V&A collection and the Burberry Archive set to go on display. Think clothing (including a fair few trench coats), accessories, sketches and more.
When: 21 September 2026 – 3 January 2027
Where: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Book It: Free entry | vam.ac.uk
Young Pink Kate by Juergen Teller, London 1998 © Juergen Teller
The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain
What do you remember about the 1990s? Was it the art? The music? Or maybe the fashion? If you ask Edward Enninful OBE, curator of Tate Britain’s upcoming exhibition The 90s: Art and Fashion, then it has to be the decade’s bold creativity and rebellious spirit. Looking at the era through a British lens, Enninful explores how a new optimistic chapter in the UK gave space to a new generation of diverse creative talent. Expect era-defining photographs by the likes of Juergen Teller, Nick Knight and Corrine Day, artworks by Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing, and Yinka Shonibare, and fashion pieces by Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan.
When: 1 October 2026 – 14 February 2027
Where: Tate Britain (Millbank, London SW1P 4RG)
Tickets: Tickets from £22 (members go free) | tate.org.uk
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Kitakyushu – Coming-of-Age Fashion at Japan House
Have you heard of Japan’s coming-of-age ceremony? The national holiday, which commemorates the traversal from child to adult (and encourages young people to seek their own independence), is often accompanied by grand displays of dressing up. And, while celebrated all across the country, one area has become especially well-known for its take on the celebrations: Kitakyushu. Located on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, the industrial city goes all out in showcasing an artful blend of history, tradition, creativity and counterculture. Curated by fashion stylist Yamaguchi Souta in collaboration with the people of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu – Coming-of-Age Fashion will be Japan House’s final exhibition of 2026 – and quite possibly its biggest of the year.
When: November 2026 – April 2027
Where: Japan House (101-111 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SA)
Tickets: Tickets TBC | japanhouselondon.uk
Promotional poster for Sex Pistols’ single God Save The Queen, 1977. (Jamie Reid/Sex Pistols Residuals/Universal Music Group)
Punk To Pop at The V&A South Kensington
Music has always been a huge source of inspiration for exhibitions at the V&A – and its latest show proves it. Punk to Pop will zoom in on the period from 1972 to 1985, exploring the creative explosion across music, art and fashion that shaped the period. And while music will of course sit centre stage, there will be plenty of fashion on offer too. The 1970s and 1980s had some of the most distinctive sartorial codes of the last century – primarily fuelled by the creatives that pushed the boundaries of art and self-expression. From the studded leather jackets and chunky black boots of the punk era to the neon-drenched spandex of 80s pop, these two eras evolved and clashed in one of the most memorable ways in fashion history. See our guide here for what to expect.
When: 13 March 2027 – 2 January 2028
Where: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Book It: Tickets TBC (members go free) | vam.ac.uk
