Passionate about fashion? Then the Paris Fashion Show is the one event you cannot miss. Twice a year, the French capital turns into the world’s biggest runway, and Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann is right at the heart of it. Whether you are planning a trip to Paris, follow every runway on Instagram, or simply want to keep up with the latest trends, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Paris Fashion Week — from its history to where to watch the shows and how to live the experience with us.
What is Paris Fashion Week?
For centuries, Paris has been considered the undisputed Fashion Capital of the world. Haute Couture was born here in the 19th century, and many of the most iconic fashion houses — Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy — still call this city home. Today, Paris remains the unrivaled queen of the runways thanks to Paris Fashion Week (often shortened to PFW) and its dedicated Haute Couture sister event.
Paris Fashion Week is a series of runway events held twice a year, where international designers unveil their upcoming collections to press, buyers, celebrities, and a global audience watching online. At Galeries Lafayette, we celebrate this moment as it deserves: with style, inspiration, and a close eye on the most exciting new voices in fashion.
When did Paris Fashion Week start?
The first official edition took place in 1973, the year the Fédération Française de la Couture was created and the iconic Battle of Versailles fashion show pitted five French designers against five American designers in a historic transatlantic face-off. That night marked a turning point for contemporary fashion and put Paris back on the modern map as the world’s leading runway city.
Since then, Paris Fashion Week has become the global reference for anticipating the trends of every season. The event is now organized by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), the official body that brings together France’s leading houses and oversees the official calendar of shows.
What collections are shown during the Paris Fashion Show?
Two types of collections take over the city during PFW:
- Ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter): versatile, commercial designs that will hit stores the following season.
- Haute Couture: custom-made, one-of-a-kind pieces crafted by hand in Parisian ateliers. Only a small number of houses are legally allowed to use the Haute Couture label, a protected designation overseen by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode.
If you love fashion as much as we do, a visit to Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann — our flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann — is a must during your stay. We run guided tours in English and French, often outside opening hours, so you can discover the architecture, history, and best-kept secrets of our department store in an exclusive setting.
When is Paris Fashion Week 2026?
Paris Fashion Week is split into several editions each year, organized by gender (menswear and womenswear) and by season (Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter). The Haute Couture Week schedule is separate and takes place in January and July. While the FHCM publishes the final calendar a few weeks before each event, here are the typical windows you should keep on your radar:
- Haute Couture Spring/Summer: late January
- Womenswear Fall/Winter ready-to-wear: late February to early March
- Menswear Spring/Summer: mid- to late June
- Haute Couture Fall/Winter: early July
- Womenswear Spring/Summer ready-to-wear: late September to early October
For the most up-to-date dates, check the official FHCM website before booking your trip.
Where is Paris Fashion Week held?
During fashion month, Paris becomes the meeting point for designers, models, celebrities, fashion editors, and style lovers from around the world. The city hosts close to one hundred runway shows in some of its most iconic landmarks, with an average of fifteen shows a day. It is a true fashion marathon, where the biggest houses and emerging designers reveal their new collections side by side.
Every runway is a spectacle in its own right: dramatic set design, live music, and artistic concepts that express the identity of each Maison. Venues change every season, but a few classics come back again and again:
- The Jardin des Tuileries
- The Espace Niemeyer
- The Grand Palais
- The Palais de Tokyo
- The Palais de Chaillot
- The Carrousel du Louvre
- The Oratoire du Louvre
Womenswear Fall/Winter shows
The Fall/Winter womenswear ready-to-wear shows are the moment to discover the silhouettes, textures, and palettes that will define the colder months. The most influential houses unveil collections that blend innovation with tradition — think rich tailoring, statement outerwear, and the bold experimentation that has always defined the Paris runway.
Womenswear Spring/Summer shows
In Spring/Summer, the biggest names present their lightest, freshest collections. This is the schedule that often sets the tone for the trends you will see in stores — and on the street — the following spring. Expect appearances from heritage Maisons such as Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton, alongside the emerging designers shaking up the calendar.
Menswear Fall/Winter shows
The Fall/Winter menswear ready-to-wear shows blend the elegance of classic tailoring with a sharper, more modern attitude. Suits and ties are back in force, cut in neutral tones with refined detailing. Capes, layered pieces, floral prints, and a medieval-inspired mood often define many of the collections.
Menswear Spring/Summer shows
The Spring/Summer menswear shows are one of the most exciting moments to experience contemporary design first-hand. The final designer line-up is rarely revealed until the last moment, but iconic houses typically share the runway with emerging talents who bring a fresh, contemporary vision to menswear.
After a day spent watching the shows, the easiest place to find the latest runway-inspired pieces is right here at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann. You will discover the newest fashion, accessories, shoes, and beauty products, all under one roof. For a complete experience, take a gourmet break at one of our standout restaurants, such as Ladurée, Mosugo or Yora.
Can anyone go to the Paris Fashion Show?
This is one of the most common questions about PFW — and the honest answer is: not exactly. Tickets to the official Paris Fashion Week runways are reserved for celebrities, VIP clients, buyers, and accredited fashion press. There is no public ticketing, and invitations are personal.
That said, the city itself is in full fashion mode during PFW, and there are many ways to live the experience without an industry pass. Front-row glimpses, off-schedule shows, brand pop-ups, exhibitions, and street-style hotspots transform the city into one giant open-air runway.
How do you attend a fashion show in Paris?
If you want the thrill of a Parisian runway without the industry pass, the best option is to book a fashion show at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann. Every Friday afternoon at our flagship store, professional models present the season’s must-have trends in a cosy, elegant setting under our iconic glass dome. Tickets start at €25 for adults and €15 for children, and our marvelous 30-minute show is one of the most accessible ways to live a real Parisian fashion moment.
How can I watch the Paris Fashion Show online?
If you cannot travel to Paris, you can still follow PFW in real time. Here are the best ways to watch:
- The official FHCM website: the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode streams selected shows and publishes the full calendar, designer profiles, and recaps after each runway.
- Instagram and TikTok: follow the official @parisfashionweek account and the hashtags #PFW, #ParisFashionWeek, and #HauteCouture to find live videos, exclusive backstage content, and interviews.
- Brand YouTube channels: the major houses — Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga — broadcast their shows live on their official channels and keep the replays available afterwards.
- Fashion media: Vogue Runway, Business of Fashion, and similar outlets publish full collection galleries and reviews within hours of each show.
Visit the Creative Gallery at Galeries Lafayette
Inside our Paris Haussmann flagship, you can discover a curated selection of designers whose work brings the spirit of the runway to a wider audience. Do not miss the Creative Gallery (Galerie Créative), located on the second floor.
This multi-brand space spans about 2,400 sq ft (225 sqm) and brings together around thirty designers, half of whom are showcased at Galeries Lafayette for the very first time. The Creative Gallery is built for shoppers looking for singular, off-the-beaten-path pieces. The selection reflects both current trends and the directions fashion is heading next, with a vibrant edit of the brands every insider is talking about.
Must-have collections and runway trends
The pieces unveiled during the Paris Fashion Show set the tone for the seasons ahead. A few of the trends that have recently taken over the runways:
- Romantic and boho: slip dresses, delicate lace, and floaty fabrics that bring an ethereal, feminine feel.
- Modern tailoring: structured suits, pencil skirts, and fitted blazers — the office wardrobe is back, but reinterpreted with a sharper, contemporary twist.
- Nostalgia and references: ruffles, retro cuts, and medieval touches add a dose of history to many collections, with a thoroughly modern attitude.
- Statement accessories: mini bags with geometric silhouettes, oversize minimalist sunglasses, platform shoes, maxi jewelry, and floral details have all walked the Paris runway with confidence.
Ready to find your own style? At Galeries Lafayette you will find a wide selection of pieces and accessories inspired by the Paris runways, from the most accessible brands to luxury Maisons.
Take a break at the Beauty and Care area
Need a pause between two shows? Step into our Beauty and Care area, a wellness sanctuary right in the heart of the store. This 3,000-sqm space is entirely dedicated to self-care, relaxation, and balance, with skincare experts, hair specialists, and made-to-measure treatment cabins.
Designed as an escape from the buzz of the city, the Beauty and Care area is the perfect way to recover after a long day of front-row spotting, runway watching, and shopping. Your visit to Paris during fashion month is the perfect excuse to discover this temple of relaxation.
Plan your Paris Fashion Week trip
Coming to Paris for PFW? Mix shopping, sightseeing, and a few well-chosen cultural detours. Our travel guides can help you build the perfect itinerary:
- See the top sights in Paris in 5 days — the ideal companion if you are pairing PFW with a longer city break.
- Paris in the Fall — perfect for the September/October womenswear shows.
- Your ultimate guide to Paris in summer — useful for the JulyHaute Couture schedule.
- French customs and traditions to know before your trip — a few cultural pointers to feel right at home.
Whether you come for the Haute Couture runways in July, the menswear shows in June, or the womenswear collections in February and September, the Paris Fashion Show is more than a calendar event — it is a love letter to the city that invented modern fashion. Live PFW with us, even if Paris feels far away.
