Twice a year, almost 100 fashion shows take over the most prestigious venues in Paris. The eyes of the world are turned to the City of Light for Fashion Week, a not-to-be-missed event in the world of fashion.
For a week, the whole of Paris will be buzzing to the rhythm of the catwalk shows by the great fashion houses such as Dior, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace...
Spotlight on the catwalk shows
Fashion Weeks are marathons of fashion shows. On average, there are 15 shows a day, scrupulously programmed by the fashion federation to ensure that they do not overlap. More poetically, the catwalk shows are all about flashbulbs going off, people embracing exuberantly... but above all, they are inspiring moments when each designer brings his or her collections to life, generating dreams and creating a sensation to imprint his or her vision on the spectators.
Paris Fashion Week addresses not to be missed
The sites of the different shows at each Fashion Week differ at least in part each year. However, there are a few places that are a must-see:
- Le Grand Palais
- Le Jardin des Tuileries
- L’oratoire du Louvre
- Le Palais de Tokyo
- Le Palais de Chaillot
- Le 35-37
- L’Espace Niemeyer
- Le Carrousel du Louvre...
A brief history of Fashion Week
For one week, twice a year, Paris, New York, London and Milan create the event. These four fashion capitals of the world bring together designers, journalists and enthusiasts for their Fashion Weeks. These are major events for the economies of these cities, which, in France, have their origins in the birth of the Chambre Syndicale de Haute Couture in 1868 and the creation of the legally controlled appellation of “Haute Couture” in 1945.
However, fashion shows really took off in the 70s, notably during the “battle” between the French haute-couture team and the American styling team at Versailles.
Then in the 80s, with pharaonic catwalk events (such as Thierry Mugler's show at the Zénith in front of 6,000 people). But it wasn't until 1994 that the first real Paris Fashion Week took place, in the heart of the Carrousel du Louvre, under the impetus of the iconic Karl Lagerfeld.
Dates of the next Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week
Women's fashion
The Spring/Summer 2026 shows will take place from 29 September to 7 October 2025.
The major designers' creations for the Autumn/Winter 2026-2027 season will be presented from 2 to 10 March 2026.
The Spring/Summer 2027 fashion shows will take place from 28 September to 6 October 2026.
Men's fashion
The Spring/Summer 2026 shows will take place from 24 to 29 June 2025.
The Autumn/Winter 2026-2027 shows will take place from 20 to 25 January 2026.
The Spring/Summer 2027 shows will take place from 23 to 28 June 2026.
Haute Couture Week
The next haute-couture shows (Haute Couture Week, not to be confused with Fashion Week) will take place from 7 to 10 July 2025 (Autumn/Winter 2025-2026 collection).
In 2026, haute-couture shows will be held from 26 to 29 January 2026 (Spring/Summer 2026 collection) and from 6 to 9 July 2026 (Autumn/Winter 2026-2027 collection).
By The editor
The editorial staff of France.fr follows the trends and news of destinations to bring you stories from France that reveal its innovations and traditions that make you long to (re) discover its territories.
