In 2026 Antwerp celebrates fashion talent with an exhibition and fashion festival
Antwerp, 15 January 2026
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the international breakthrough of the “Antwerp Six”: the six iconic fashion designers who put Antwerp on the global fashion map. That is why MoMu - Fashion Museum Antwerp, Flanders District of Creativity and the city of Antwerp, in collaboration with EventFlanders, are launching the exhibition “The Antwerp Six” and the Antwerp.Fashion Festival this year.
At the end of March, MoMu will pay tribute to the Antwerp Six with a large-scale exhibition. At the beginning of June, the Antwerp.Fashion Festival will put the current generation of Antwerp's designers, fashion talents and brands in the spotlight. Together, these initiatives emphasise both the historical importance and contemporary vitality of Antwerp as a leading international fashion city. In November 2025, the Flemish government decided to classify the Antwerp.Fashion Festival 2026 as a top Flemish event.
Flemish Minister of Tourism Melissa Depraetere is enthusiastic: "The hard work of hundreds of Antwerp designers, in particular the “Six of Antwerp”, has put Antwerp on the map as a fashion city. And that has also given tourism in the city a boost. With the Antwerp.Fashion Festival, we honour the hard work of all these designers. The 40th anniversary promises to be a big celebration with thousands of visitors, young and old. The city, its entrepreneurs and hospitality industry are ready for it."
The Antwerp Six
Individuality and non-conformism have been part of Antwerp fashion's DNA for decades: it is an international story of talent and boundless creativity. The Antwerp Six also had a lasting impact on the international fashion scene. The exhibition “The Antwerp Six” charts the unique careers of Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene and Marina Yee and shows how their vision and imagination continue to influence the fashion world to this day. The exhibition runs from 28 March 2026 to 17 January 2027 at MoMu and is complemented by lectures, guided tours, workshops and nocturnes. More information about the exhibition can be found at momu.be.
Alderman for Culture Lien Van de Kelder: "Over the years, Antwerp has not only embraced fashion, we have helped to create it. Forty years ago, the Antwerp Six were given the space and confidence to grow, and they continue to put our city on the international map today. That is precisely why we continue to give our artists, our creators and our new talent the oxygen they need to create, try, fail and start again. In this way, we continue to invest in the future and reaffirm our position as an avant-garde fashion city. With the Antwerp.Fashion Festival, the talent of today and tomorrow is given a platform to showcase itself, something to look forward to."
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Fashion as inspiration for young people
With an accessible and diverse range of projects and events throughout the year, MoMu and Flanders District of Creativity are committed to inspiring young people and vulnerable groups and guiding them towards creativity. Fashion is also used to draw attention to sustainability, identity and entrepreneurship.
JUNCTION is an accessible streetwear event aimed at young people and local streetwear brands. With workshops, talks and a market on 9 May, Flanders District of Creativity, in collaboration with Het Bos, aims to inspire young talent in the fields of creativity and entrepreneurship. Streetwear allows young creatives to express their identity and culture in an accessible and powerful way.
SEW WHAT is a theatre performance by MoMu in collaboration with hetpaleis, running from the end of November for young people aged 10 to 14. The visitors are invited to take a fresh look at the clothes they wear every day and their influence on their media consumption.
Antwerp.Fashion Festival
Antwerp has many internationally renowned fashion talents, but also attracts new and young talent. From 4 to 7 June 2026, the Antwerp Fashion Festival will celebrate both established names in the fashion world and a new generation of designers. Spread across the city centre, today's fashion brands and talents will be given a platform through fashion shows, exhibitions, talks and events.
Antwerp shops will also open their doors for presentations, installations and events featuring fashion brands and designers. This will allow visitors and tourists to discover fashion in the city. Most activities during the festival will be free of charge.
More information soon available at antwerpfashionfestival.be.
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Support for shows, events and installations
Fashion talents, designers and brands are given the opportunity to showcase their collections in Antwerp's shops and restaurants during the Antwerp.Fashion Festival. The City of Antwerp is providing financial support. Talented individuals and entrepreneurs can receive up to 20,000 euros to showcase their fashion brand or collection with a presentation and up to 5,000 euros to showcase their fashion in an installation or event in collaboration with an Antwerp shop, hospitality business or studio.
Fashion talents and entrepreneurs can submit an application until 28 January 2 p.m. via https://www.businessinantwerp.eu/en/news/new-call-fashion-retail-your-brand-spotlight-during-antwerpfashion-festival-2026-citys-support
Antwerp Fashion Plan
Antwerp.Fashion Festival is part of a multi-year fashion plan supported by the City of Antwerp, Flanders District of Creativity and the Antwerp Fashion Museum, in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. With this festival, the organisers aim to give the fashion sector, both young and established talents, more visibility each year and to strengthen Antwerp's position as a leading fashion city internationally. At the same time, the festival aims to lower the threshold to the fashion sector.
Alderman for Economy Johan Klaps: ‘With our strategic fashion plan, we are putting fashion entrepreneurship centre stage and strengthening Antwerp's position as an international fashion city. The Antwerp.Fashion Festival is a lever for talent, entrepreneurship and international visibility.’
Below you can find the press kit for the Antwerp.Fashion Festival.
Antwerp Fashion Festival Persdossier EN
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Stefan Ceunen