Paris Fashion Week, which concludes Fashion Month after New York, London and Milan, will take place this year from September 28 to October 6, 2026. Before the shows begin, here’s everything you need to know.
When Is Paris Fashion Week September 2026?
Paris Fashion Week will take place from September 28 to October 6, 2026. This season covers womenswear spring/summer 2027. The tentative schedule includes 33 presentations and 68 fashion shows in 101 residences.
The schedule is still unclear. The lineup and dates may change slightly as the event approaches.
Top Highlights of the Spring/Summer 2027 Season
The week will kick off with the Julie Kegels show on September 28. It will conclude with the Louis Vuitton show on October 6. You can expect both first-time arrivals and big-name comebacks in between.
Major Returns and a Historic Debut
Valentino, Maison Margiela, and Sacai are all back on the Paris schedule this season. South African label Maxhosa Africa also makes its official Paris Fashion Week debut on 28 September. Founded by designer Laduma Ngxokolo, the brand is known for dressing Beyoncé and Michelle Obama.
New Creative Directors Take the Stage
Two houses welcome new creative directors for their first collections:
- Drew Henry’s debut for Courrèges on 30 September
- Kai Nesselrath’s debut for Carven on 1 October
30 September is shaping up to be one of the busiest days of the week. The Row, Balmain, Dries Van Noten, Stella McCartney, Acne Studios, and Courrèges all show on the same day.
A Season Shaped by Japanese Design
This season leans heavily into Japanese design. Anrealage, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Watanabe, Comme des Garçons, and Sacai all appear on the calendar. Other headliners include Dior, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Loewe, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford, Dries Van Noten, and Celine.
For emerging talent, the Fédération’s SPHERE showroom runs at the Palais de Tokyo from 30 September to 6 October. It is a great spot to discover rising designers in a setting that is more accessible than the invitation-only runways.
How Fashion Week Began
It is useful to consider the origins of Paris Fashion Week to understand it now.
The First Fashion Designer
In the 1850s, the Parisian fashion business began to gain momentum. In the past, tailors would come to customers’ homes to choose their clothes. This was changed by Charles Frederick Worth. For the first time, clients approached the designer, rather than the other way around, when he founded the Maison Worth on the Rue de la Paix in 1858.
From Salon Shows to Fashion Week
Another new concept introduced by Worth: twice-yearly meetings where clients could see the entire collection at once. These were known as salon shows, and rather than staging a show, their main purpose was to attract buyers. This concept remains the foundation of Paris Fashion Week.
The concept soon crossed borders. The first fashion show in the United States is believed to have taken place in 1903 at Ehrich Brothers in New York City. By 1910, US retailers and designers were hosting their own shows, and by the 1920s, the fashion show had become a standard way to promote a new collection.
Organized Fashion Week actually began in New York City, not Paris. American editors and buyers looked to Paris for inspiration until the 1940s. In 1943, New York held its own Fashion Week to fill the void left by World War II, which prevented travel to occupied Paris. Paris Fashion Week regained its position at the center of the industry once travel became possible again.
Five Iconic Runway Moments From the Past Decade
There were many memorable moments during Paris Fashion Week. Here are five topics that continue to be discussed by fashion enthusiasts.
Chanel Autumn/Winter 2017
Karl Lagerfeld built a giant rocket inside the Grand Palais. The show felt like a mission to escape Earth. It became one of the most talked-about shows of the decade.
Versace Spring/Summer 2018
Donatella Versace staged this show at Milan’s Triennale museum. It celebrated her brother Gianni Versace’s life and creative legacy. The show focused on his bold, feminist designs.
Jacquemus Spring/Summer 2020
Simon Porte Jacquemus marked his brand’s 10th anniversary with a runway in a lavender field. Models walked a bright pink carpet through the French countryside. The setting matched the brand’s signature colours perfectly.
Loewe Autumn/Winter 2022
Simon Porte Jacquemus marked his brand’s 10th anniversary with a runway in a lavender field. Models walked a bright pink carpet through the French countryside. The setting matched the brand’s signature colours perfectly.
Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2022
This collection mixed preppy suiting with cropped, cut-out pieces. It also introduced a New Balance sneaker collaboration. That shoe later became a favourite among fashion influencers everywhere.
How Paris Fashion Week Works Today
Today, Paris Fashion Week is a series of presentations and shows. Presentations allow customers to see the clothes up close in a decorated hall, while shows are live catwalk events. Press and consumers are interested in both media.
Big fashion houses often choose runway shows for their main collections. Smaller or newer labels sometimes prefer presentations instead. This mix gives Paris Fashion Week a wide range of styles each season, and it gives new designers a chance to be seen alongside famous names.
Editors, stylists, buyers and celebrities are all on the guest list. The event has also been transformed by social media: images and videos from each show reach millions of people in minutes, and influencers now set trends in the same way magazines once did.
Common Questions About Paris Fashion Week
When does Paris Fashion Week 2026 start?
Paris Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2027 season starts on 28 September 2026 and runs through 6 October 2026.
How many shows are there at Paris Fashion Week?
This season, the provisional calendar features 68 runway shows and 33 presentations across 101 houses.
Who is the first fashion designer in history?
Charles Frederick Worth is widely seen as the first true fashion designer. He opened The House of Worth in Paris in 1858.
Where did Fashion Week start?
Fashion Week as an organised event started in New York in 1943. Paris Fashion Week grew out of an older tradition of salon shows that began in the 1850s.
Study Fashion in Paris
You do not have to just watch Paris Fashion Week from home. You can study in the city where fashion history began.
Studying fashion in Paris means being close to fashion shows, designers, and the industry. To help you build a strong portfolio before you graduate, classes often include studio visits, guest lectures from industry experts, and real-life fashion projects.
Many schools plan their term around Paris Fashion Week, giving you access to talks, exhibitions, and industry events during the season. Few cities offer this level of access to the fashion world.
A fashion education can impact your entire career, even though Paris Fashion Week only lasts a few days each season. Take the first step towards a career in fashion by register now if you want to study fashion in Paris.
