11 Exciting Fashion Exhibitions Coming To London In 2026
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From the V&A's major Schiaparelli showcase to a royal wardrobe retrospective, these are the fashion exhibitions taking over London in the new 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
Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World at the National Portrait Gallery
Fashion photography takes centre stage in this major exhibition by the National Portrait Gallery. Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World traces the career of the 20th century photographer – often called the ‘King of Vogue‘ – from his early experiments as child and first images of high society patrons to his royal portraiture and Hollywood photography. The exhibition also dives into Beaton’s career-defining relationship with Vogue, with the title’s current Contributing Editor (and fashion historian) Robin Muir acting as curator. Expect plenty of portraits depicting some of the era’s biggest stars, including actors Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando; royals Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret; and artists Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Salvador Dalí.
When: Until 11 January 2026
Where: National Portrait Gallery (St. Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE)
Tickets: Tickets from £23 (members go free) | npg.org.uk
Elizabeth Taylor, 1955, Gelatin silver print, The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive, London.
Dirty Looks: Desire and Decay in Fashion at the Barbican Art Gallery
The Barbican’s latest exhibition is an exploration of how contemporary fashion is getting down and dirty – with literal dirt, of course. Dirty Looks brings together over 60 brands and designers from all over the world to trace the use of ‘dirty’ aesthetics as a means of rebellions, romanticism and regeneration. ‘Dirty Looks signals the Barbican’s bold return to fashion as a vital strand of our visual arts programming – one that recognises fashion not only as a form of artistic expression, but also as a lens through which to examine cultural, environmental and political urgencies,’ commented Shanay Jhaveri, Head of Visual Arts at the Barbican. ‘With its focus on decay, renewal and the aesthetics of imperfection, this exhibition invites us to reconsider beauty, value and the regenerative power of making in a world in flux.’
When: Until 25 January 2026
Where: Barbican Centre (Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS)
Tickets: Tickets from £20 per person | barbican.org.uk
New Landscapes at the British Council HQ
Spotlighting the future of sustainable fashion and textiles, New Landscapes is a collaborative exhibition between the University of the Arts London’s (UAL) Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute and the British Council. The exhibition showcases a range of exciting projects focused on global research and development, spanning 42 SME-led partnerships across the UK, India, Nigeria and more. Think prototypes of bio-materials, innovative dyes and digital traceability tools – including climate positive microbial colour systems and the bio-derived sequins featured in GANNI’s AW25 collection.
When: Until 30 January 2026
Where: Ground floor, 1 Redman Place, Stratford Cross, London E20 1JQ
Tickets: Free entry, no booking required. (Although visitors are required to sign in upon entry.) | arts.britishcouncil.org
(c) Nipun Prabhakar
Design and Disability at the V&A
Another V&A exhibition on to keep on your radar Design and Disability, which showcases how Disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent people have radically contributed to design and culture since the 1940s. Spanning 170 objects relating to design, art, architecture, photography and fashion, the exhibition is marked as ‘a celebration of Disabled-led design and a call for action, affirming the importance of embedding the experiences and expertise of Disabled people in design processes.’
When: Until 15 February 2026
Where: V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL)
Tickets: Tickets from £16 per person| vam.ac.uk
‘just one of those things #002’ by Mari Katayama, 2021 © Mari Katayama, courtesy of Mari Katayama Studio and Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve, Paris
Gianni Versace Retrospective at Arches London Bridge
Almost 30 years after his death, Gianni Versace continues to hold sway over the fashion landscape – and in this new retrospective exhibition coming to London this summer, we can see just how the trailblazer came to make his mark on the industry. The first and the largest exhibition of its kind in the UK, Gianni Versace Retrospective will feature over 450 original pieces by the designer, worn by the likes of Princess Diana, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Elton John, Liz Hurley, George Michael and more – many of which have never been displayed in the UK before.
When: Until 1 March 2026
Where: Arches London Bridge (8 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 2ER)
Tickets: Tickets from £30.75 (concessions available) | gianniversacelondon.co.uk
Gianni Versace Retrospective in Malaga (c) Siese Veenstra
Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A
Will we ever tire of talking about Maire Antoinette? Probably not, and the V&A’s upcoming exhibition dedicated to her enduring style legacy only proves it. The UK’s first dedicated exhibition, Marie Antoinette Style examines her impact as a fashion icon to both her contemporaries and modern fashion lovers retrospectively. Expect plenty of gowns on display, as well as audio visual installations and more. You can find out more about what to expect here.
When: Until 22 March 2026
Where: V&A South Kensington (Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL)
Tickets: Tickets from £23 (members go free) | vam.ac.uk
(c) V&A
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at the V&A
‘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.
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
Schiaparelli by Daniel Roseberry (c) Patrimoine Schiaparelli, Paris
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.
When: 10 April – 18 October 2026
Where: The King’s Gallery (Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA)
Tickets: Tickets from £22 | rct.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
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 TBC (members go free) | designmuseum.org
NIGO (c) The Design Museum
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 TBC (members go free) | npg.org.uk
Marilyn Monroe, by Cecil Beaton, bromide print, 1956. Collection: National Portrait Gallery, NPG #40269
The 90s 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, 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 TBC (members go free) | tate.org.uk
Young Pink Kate by Juergen Teller, London 1998 © Juergen Teller
