If you are holidaying across Europe this summer, these must-see exhibitions offer a rare chance to step inside the worlds of fashion’s and royalty’s most influential names. From the wardrobes of Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Sirikit of Thailand to extraordinary couture archives and the jewellery houses that dressed royals and A-listers, consider this your guide to the most stylish exhibitions of Summer 2026.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style
The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, is presenting the largest exhibition ever dedicated to the fashion legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, tracing her evolution from princess to sovereign through an extraordinary collection of garments, accessories, and archival treasures. Featuring pieces worn throughout every stage of her life, including her wedding and coronation ensembles, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship, diplomacy, and symbolism behind one of the most influential royal wardrobes in history. Alongside couture creations and personal accessories, visitors can explore design sketches, fabric swatches, and handwritten correspondence that reveal the meticulous process behind the late Queen’s image.
Till 18 April 2027 rct.uk/queenelizabeth
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art
The Victoria and Albert Museum is staging the first-ever exhibition devoted purely to the surrealist and eccentric works of the formidable designer, Elsa Schiaparelli. Spanning the house’s origins to its present-day designs under the eye of creative director Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art is a window into the creative world of one of fashion’s most iconic innovators. The exhibition features over 200 objects that trace the Italian designer’s ingenious creativity and radical exploration of fashion, including the ‘Skeleton’ and ‘Tears’ dresses, the shoe hat created with Salvador Dalí and Bella Hadid’s iconic lung dress. It also references the popularity of Schiaparelli’s designs for film and theatre productions and features the works of Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau and Man Ray.
28 March – 8 November 2026 vam.ac.uk
Fashion in Majesty: Haute Couture and Tradition at the Court of Thailand
The Museum of Decorative Arts hosts an exhibition showcasing more than 100 garments and accessories from the Thai royal family’s collection. On display are the eight traditional costume styles created by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in collaboration with local historians and designers. Blending ancient craftsmanship with modern elegance, the exhibition highlights how royal dress has become a powerful expression of both heritage and innovation. This exhibition traces the story of a unique marriage between fashion and culture. Since the 1960s, Queen Sirikit has partnered with Pierre Balmain, blending regal elegance with innovative design while honouring her heritage.
13 May – 1 November 2026 billetterie.madparis.fr/
Gianni Versace retrospective
The Musée Maillol in Paris is hosting one of the largest exhibitions ever dedicated to Gianni Versace. Bringing together nearly 450 original garments, accessories, sketches, photographs, videos, and archival pieces, the exhibition offers a deep dive into the designer’s exuberant and often mystical creative universe, showcasing his groundbreaking career and enduring influence on fashion.
Until September 6, 2026 museemaillol.com
Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior, Two Masters of Haute Couture
A collaboration between La Galerie Dior and Azzedine Alaïa Fondation, this dual exhibition is offering a unique look into the work of two iconic French designers with an interwoven history. Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior: Two Masters of Haute Couture, housed in the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation, will explore how Alaïa’s fashion legacy was continuously influenced by the visionary style of Dior and how his lifelong admiration for Dior’s architectural silhouettes echoes through his own work. With nearly 70 designs from both houses, the exhibition stages the works of the two designers side by side, offering a stylistic dialogue between the timeless couture of two fashion icons. Alaïa was also an avid collector of vintage fashion, including his careful preservation of more than 500 Dior designs.
Until 21 June, 2026 fondationazzedinealaia.org
‘Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary’
Hosted at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, this major exhibition celebrates the enduring legacy of Vivienne Westwood through more than 40 iconic ensembles, rare archival pisces, and exceptional examples of her revolutionary craftsmanship. Charting her remarkable journey from her evolution from raw punk subversion to master couturier, the exhibition explores how Westwood transformed British fashion and challenged conventions at every turn. Featuring rare pieces on loan from private collectors, the showcase offers a rare opportunity to experience the creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural impact of one of fashion’s most influential visionaries.
28 March – 6 September 2026 thebowesmuseum.org.uk
GLANZSTÜCKE: Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry × Masterpieces from the MAK Collection
The Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna is hosting GLANZSTÜCKE: Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry × Masterpieces from the MAK Collection, a major exhibition bringing together more than 500 objects. The showcase pairs iconic creations from Van Cleef & Arpels—including Queen Nazli of Egypt’s diamond necklace, Elizabeth Taylor’s legendary jewels, and the Barquerolles choker—with selected masterpieces from the MAK collection. Organised into six thematic sections, it offers a fascinating exploration of artistic dialogue across disciplines while celebrating some of the most emblematic creations in the maison’s history.
10 June – 27 September 2026 mak.at
