All The Fashion Exhibitions Coming To London In 2027
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1 week 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.
2026/7 Fashion Exhibitions To Book In London
Queen Elizabeth II on Princess Margaret’s Wedding Day, Cecil Beaton, 1960 (c) Cecil Beaton, Victoria and Albert Museum
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, showcasing 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
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. See our guide here for what to expect.
When: 1 October 2026 – 14 February 2027
Where: Tate Britain (Millbank, London SW1P 4RG)
Tickets: Tickets from £22 (members go free) | tate.org.uk
Ossie Clark + Celia Birtwell at The Fashion and Textile Museum
The latest fashion exhibition to arrive at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum puts the spotlight on industry trailblazer Ossie Clark. The designer, who was known for his glamorous rock-and-roll aesthetic, regularly collaborated with his wife Celia Birtwell – splashing his recognisable silhouettes with her distinctive prints. Drawing on a private collection of Clark’s designs, the show explores the designer’s rise in pop culture to become one of the most influential figures in the capital during the 1960s and 70s.
When: 2 October 2026 – 11 April 2027
Where: The Fashion and Textile Museum (83 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XF)
Tickets: Tickets from £12.65 | fashiontextilemuseum.org
Volta Photo Studio, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso © Sanlé Sory, 2026. Courtesy of Tezeta.
Sanlé Sory: Colour Years at The Photographer’s Gallery
You can brighten up any dreary winter day by paying a visit to The Photographer’s Gallery, where it’s currently hosting Sanlé Sory: Colour Years. One of Burkina Faso’s most influential photographers, Sory has spent his career photographing people, places and political change in West Africa – resulting in an estimated 1 million portraits in counting. Colour Years brings together some of his lesser-known colour work that has been meticulously restored from the negatives in his archive, alongside his images of the bands, fashion and music that flourished in Burkina Faso after the country’s independence.
When: 14 Oct 2026 – 21 Feb 2027
Where: The Photographer’s Gallery (16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW)
Tickets: Tickets from £12 online (£14 in person), plus £2 donation | thephotographersgallery.org.uk
Freddie Mercury, Magic Tour 1986. Photograph by Denis O’Regan
Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things at The V&A South Kensington
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury will be the subject of a new trail winding through V&A South Kensington. Featuring eight looks worn by the performer, the free trail will spotlight some the most iconic moments from his career – while celebrating his flair for flamboyance, creativity and ‘splendid things’. The trail has been curated in collaboration with Mary Austin, Mercury’s former fiance and close friend, who has also lent seven of the looks set to go on show.
When: 24 October 2026 – 17 January 2027
Where:V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL)
Tickets: Free trail | vam.ac.uk
Young people celebrating Coming-Of-Age Day in Kitakyushu (c) Nakamura Kenta
Tradition/Rebellion: Coming-of-Age Style in Kitakyushu, Japan 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 is one of the most exciting exhibitions on Asian fashion to come to the capital recent years.
When: 11 November 2026 – 18 April 2027
Where: Japan House (101-111 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SA)
Tickets: Admission free | 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
Queen Victoria, 1882, by Alexander Bassano (c) Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust
Royal Jewellery: From Coronations To Keepsakes at The King’s Gallery
British royals have spent centuries cultivating one of the most coveted collections of jewels, gems, adornments, trinkets and, of course, crowns. And now, for the first time, we’re getting an exhibition dedicated entirely to the royal family’s extensive jewellery wardrobe. Royal Jewellery: From Coronations To Keepsakes will showcase more than 300 pieces of jewellery, paintings, designs and documents from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives, spanning from the 16th century to today – so you can expect jewellery worn by Henry VIII and Charles II to sit snugly beside heirlooms belonging to Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. See our guide here for what to expect.
When: 25 June 2027 – 19 March 2028
Where: The King’s Gallery (Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA)
Tickets: Tickets from £24 | rct.uk
