Paris Fashion Week 2026 in pictures

Silk chicken or model? Chanel transformed the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week at the Grand Palais into a forest populated by giant mushrooms and weeping willows. Matthieu Blazy, the new head designer of the world-famous label, drew inspiration from nature for his first haute couture show.

Haute couture, like this creation by Greek designer Celia Kritharioti, is considered the pinnacle of fashion. Every garment presented on the catwalk must be both unique and entirely handmade.

A model presents an unusual creation by Indian designer Rahul Mishra. Only 13 fashion houses are accredited as haute couture. To qualify, a fashion house must have a studio in Paris and present a collection twice a year. However, foreign fashion houses may also participate in the Paris show by invitation.

"The idea of the feather runs through the collection, though seldom in its natural form," explains Blazy, a 41-year-old Chanel designer. The French-Belgian fashion designer is tasked with modernizing one of the industry's largest labels. The response to his playful fashion for the spring and summer 2026 season has been positive so far.

Avant-garde Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta wired two models together for his show in Paris. Unlike the ready-to-wear collections also presented at Fashion Week, haute couture is considered an art form in its own right, where wearability plays a secondary role.

Jonathan Anderson also brought the catwalk to life. The new Dior designer presented his first haute couture collection. Similar to Blazy, the Chanel designer, Anderson paid tribute to nature, primarily through floral silhouettes and flower appliqués.

Luxurious upcycled fashion: Swiss fashion designer Kevin Germanier combines sustainability with futuristic aesthetics, transforming discarded beads into glamorous couture masks, among other pieces. The stars love it: Germanier dresses global celebrities such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.

Designer Stephane Rolland had his models float down the runway in feather-light costumes in the historic Cirque d'Hiver circus building. Among the guests was French First Lady Brigitte Macron, who praised the show as "dreamlike."

For the first time, a Vietnamese couturier was included in the program at Paris Fashion Week. At 27, Phan Huy is also the youngest designer to have showcased haute couture at Paris Fashion Week. "I am very happy and very proud because I can represent Vietnam's culture and creativity and bring it to the world," Phan told the AFP news agency.