Milan Fashion Week 2026 is set to be one of the most vibrant editions for the Lombard capital. As the city takes center stage globally—partly due to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics—fashion will intertwine with sport, luxury, and innovation, cementing Milan’s status as the ultimate international lifestyle hub.
Whether you are planning a trip to catch the runways or simply want to breathe in the glamorous atmosphere between Via Montenapoleone and the Fashion District, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 editions.
Milan Fashion Week 2026: everything you need know
Milan Fashion Week is not 'just' catwalks. It is a kermis full of events, some by invitation only and others open to the public. It is a magical atmosphere of VIPs, models and models roaming the streets, luxury and elegance. It is a city tinged with new colours to promote strong values. It is the limelight of a kingdom that only follows its own rules, where nothing is excessive when it serves to carry the flag of creativity high. Today, more and more, the key themes are inclusion, uniqueness and sustainability. So beauty becomes good beauty, a powerful weapon to make our world a better place.
But how does one experience all this? How did the National Chamber for Italian Fashion and its partners devise this year's kermesse? Let's dive into this universe of spotlights where the brakes are not on.
Here is everything you need to know about this edition of Fashion Week to experience Milan like never before.
A bit of history: the birth of Milan Fashion Week
Today, Milan is one of the international Big Four of fashion, along with New York, London and Paris. But how did it all begin?
In 1951, G.B. Giorgini presented Italian haute couture collections to foreign journalists and buyers in Florence: Italian fashion had won its rightful place worldwide. Taking inspiration from these fashion shows, Milan Fashion Week was born in 1958.
In the 1970s, however, Milan became the capital of Italian fashion in all respects. Here, at the first Milanese 'prêt à porter' shows at the Fiera di Milano, the protagonists of the catwalks were the collections of the big names we all know today. These included historic Milanese brands such as, among the pioneers, Walter Albini, Krizia and Missoni, joined in later years by Giorgio Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Gianfranco Ferré. And then again, Florentine Maisons such as Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Emilio Pucci and Ermanno Scervino.
The must-visit Milan fashion venues
As we have said, Milan Fashion Week is more than just catwalks. It is a magical atmosphere, a spirit that invades the city and 'beats strongly', especially in certain symbolic places. So the first way to experience Milan Fashion Week is to visit these 'temples of fashion'.
In Milan, there is a fabulous place called the Quadrilatero della Moda (the Fashion Quadrilateral). It is the luxury shopping district and is bordered by Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia. It includes elegant streets such as Via Santo Spirito, Via Gesù, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Bagutta and Via Borgospesso. Shopping addicts come here from all over the world to shop in showrooms and boutiques. Simply strolling around and admiring the shop windows resembles a mystical experience. Even the nearby Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with its extraordinary architectural beauty, is a shopping arcade with venues and shops to take your breath away!
The Quadrilatero della Moda, however, is also a place to breathe in the city's history through cultural experiences such as visiting museums. Museo Bagatti Valsecchi, located in Via Gesù, is a house museum inspired by 16th-century Lombard houses. Palazzo Morando, in Via Sant'Andrea, is home to the Milan City Council's Fashion and Costume Museum.
Find out how to book Museo Bagatti ValsecchiFashion Week in Milan: how to attend the fashion shows
Unfortunately, the MFW shows are an exclusive event, forbidden fruit reserved for industry insiders, VIPs, and wealthy clients or only accessible by invitation. Thus, influencers, fashion bloggers, pop stars, top models, journalists, or specialised photographers can attend the shows. But don't worry: there are solutions to this too.
A large LED screen in Piazza dei Mercanti - right in front of the Fashion Hub in Palazzo Giureconsulti - will allow us to watch fashion shows, but let's remember the online channels.
On the milanofashionweek.cameramoda.it platform, the National Chamber for Italian Fashion offers users the opportunity to follow the digital and live streaming of fashion shows, but that's not all. There is also a section dedicated to multi-brand and single-brand virtual showrooms.
The shows will also be on the YouTube Fashion Channel after the event. The contribution of the Social Networks could be included, from the Camera della Moda Instagram profile to TikTok, Twitter and Facebook. As for mainland China and Japan, the week's events will be visible thanks to Tencent Video and Asahi Shimbun, respectively.
But what if I told you there are also ways to watch the shows in person? Yes, you can hear the sound of heels treading the catwalks, the scent of luxury in the air, and the spotlight's warmth on your skin. The Maisons themselves, in some cases, auction off tickets and then donate the proceeds to charity. On portals such as CharityStars you can try to grab tickets to the shows, backstage access, passes to the most exclusive after-parties and much more. Beware, though: tickets go fast!
Alternatively, after everyone who has a ticket and is on the list has entered, it can happen that the location is not complete. In these cases, a few lucky people may be admitted to the events. So the only thing you can do is get to the venue and arm yourself with a lot of patience.
Moreover, recently, some brands have decided to open their fashion shows and backstage to some lucky fans... Curious to know who they are? We'll tell you in the section on what's new in each edition of Fashion Week.
Milan Fashion Week 2026: what's new this year
The Milanese fashion calendar is divided into four main events, dedicated to Men's and Women's collections for the Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer seasons.
January 2026: Milan Men’s Fashion Week (F/W 2026-27)
This Fashion Week includes 90 appointments between physical and digital fashion shows, presentations, and events.
· Dates: January 16th to 20th, 2026.
· Highlights: Presentation of the menswear collections. Anticipate big runway returns and a heavy focus on sustainable luxury.
· Schedule:
· On Friday 16th of January
o H 16:00 Zegna
o H 17:00 Ralph Lauren
o H 20:00 Dsquared2
· On Saturday 17th of January
o H 11:00 Setchu
o H 12:30 Dolce & Gabbana
o H 14:30 Lessico Familiare
o H 17:00 Paul Smith
· On Sunday 18th of January
o H 10:00 Simon Cracker
o H 11:00 Qasimi
o H 12:00 Victor Hart
o H 14:00 Prada
o H 15:00 Saul Nash
o H 19:00 Domenico Orefice
· On Monday 19th of January
o H 9:30 David Catalàn
o H 10:15 Miguel Vieira
o H 11:30 Giorgio Armani
o H 19:00 PDF
· On Tuesday 20th of January
o H 9:30 Kente Gentlemen
o H 10:00 Carnet- Archive
o H 10:30 Raimondi
o H 11:00 Subwave
o H 11:30 State of Chaos
o H 12:00 Ajabeng
o H 12:30 Absent Findings
February 2026: Milan Women’s Fashion Week (F/W 2026-27)
· Dates: February 24th to March 2nd, 2026.
· Details: The most anticipated week of the year. This edition coincides with the city’s post-Olympic buzz, promising unprecedented energy.
· Schedule: To be updated.
June 2026: Milan Men’s Fashion Week (S/S 2027)
· Dates: June 19th to 23rd, 2026 (tentative).
· Schedule: To be updated.
September 2026: Milan Women’s Fashion Week (S/S 2027)
· Dates: September 22nd to 28th, 2026.
· Schedule: To be updated.
Things to Do in Milan During Fashion Week
Experiencing Fashion Week isn't just about the runways (which are often industry-only). The city comes alive with the "Fashion Fuorisalone": photography exhibitions, exclusive parties, and pop-up installations across the coolest districts like Brera, Tortona, and Porta Venezia.
Don’t miss the chance to visit the iconic landmarks that host the most prestigious events. We recommend: Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) which often home to world-class costume and art exhibitions, Pinacoteca di Brera, located in the heart of the artists' district, providing a stunning backdrop for fashion elites and Sforza Castle, a magnificent setting frequently used for outdoor installations and gala events.
During Fashion Week, the city can be hectic and traffic-heavy. To optimize your time and jump between attractions and events seamlessly, we recommend the Milan Pass. It offers free access to public transport and skip-the-line entry to major museums, saving you valuable time during the rush.
Visit Milan with Milan PassFAQs Milan Fashion Week 2026
How can I attend the fashion shows?
Most shows from major brands (Gucci, Prada, Armani) are by invitation only. However, many emerging designers offer online registration, and the city sets up giant screens in areas like Piazza San Babila or Gae Aulenti to live-stream the events for the public.
Where are the events held?
In addition to the Fashion Hub organized by the Camera della Moda, events are spread across iconic locations like the Milan Triennale or the industrial-chic lofts of Via Tortona.
Which is the full 2026 Schedule?
The detailed calendar with specific times and locations is usually released a few weeks before each event. Our suggestion is to follow the offical web site of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana
About the author
Written on 28/12/2023
Chiara Musino
Hello, I am Chiara Musino, a girl who is proud to be Italian. I love to write since I can remember and I do not like the clichés that propose a life enclosed within “boxes”. For years I have decided to dedicate myself to the promotion of “Beauty” which I consider a universal value. I write because I like to bring the world close to me anytime and because I think we can create anything from words.
Chiara Musino
Milan Fashion Week is Italy's most eagerly awaited fashion event. Discover the kermis and how to experience it even if you are not an industry insider