5 things to expect from Milan Fashion Week FW26 Men’s Four days that kick off the first fashion season of the year

Welcome back, fashion season. Welcome back, Milano Fashion Week. And yes, because as the doors of the Fortezza Da Basso in Florence close, the entire fashion system moves from Pitti to Milan. Still, it’s hard not to wonder what the role of menswear is today, as the calendar, season after season, grows increasingly sparse, split between those opting for co-ed shows and those who prefer to fly straight to Paris.

That said, the FW26 season opens with several significant developments and a renewed focus on emerging young designers. That 2026 would be a crucial year for Milan was already clear, with the Olympics just over twenty days away, but will Milanese fashion be able to truly embody this energy and translate it into real change? We’ll only get those answers in the coming days.

Here, then, are five things to expect from Milano Fashion Week Men’s FW26.

Ralph Lauren returns to Milan

After 24 years away, Ralph Lauren returns to Milan to present its menswear collection. The news was met with a degree of surprise, especially at a time when many Maisons are increasingly choosing to show in the United States rather than Europe. The reasons behind this return may, however, be linked to the upcoming Olympic Games, considering that the New York–based brand is responsible for dressing Team USA. For now, little is known about the collection itself: the only certainty is that the show will take place tomorrow, Friday January 16, at Palazzo Ralph Lauren, in the Porta Venezia area.

PDF closes MFW

The influence of Domenico Formichetti on Milanese menswear, and beyond, is now hard to ignore. PDF has moved from being the streetwear underdog, often seen as an outsider within a calendar dominated by high tailoring, to becoming one of the most anticipated appointments of the week. A trajectory that finds its symbolic confirmation this season, with PDF set to close Milano Fashion Week on Monday, January 20.

Brioni turns 80

2026 marks an important milestone for Brioni, which celebrates 80 years of history. An anniversary that arrives at a delicate moment for luxury menswear, increasingly torn between heritage and the need for renewal, and one that will culminate in a dedicated presentation. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the contemporary role of male elegance and on how a historic tailoring house can continue to remain relevant without compromising its own language.

The second show by Lessico Familiare

For Lessico Familiare, FW26 marks a significant return. The brand had not shown in Milan since FW23 and over the past year had chosen a different path, opting for an event during the women’s calendar in February to present Abbecedario, an editorial project that shifted the focus from product to storytelling. The co-ed collection appears to be titled New Age, judging by what emerged from the official Instagram post, and seems to draw inspiration from spirituality, the moon, and the stars, with a Carolyn Bessette Kennedy–style twist.

The debuts of Domenico Orefice and Victor Hart

This edition of Milano Fashion Week Men’s places particular emphasis on debuts, confirming an increasingly explicit desire to renew its creative ecosystem. Among the most anticipated names is Domenico Orefice, who, after dressing some of the most relevant figures in the Italian rap scene, from Marracash to Geolier, makes his official debut on the Milanese calendar with FW26. Alongside him stands Victor Hart, one of the most interesting Milan-based designers working today. His work weaves together the tradition of Italian tailoring with references to black dandism, shaping an aesthetic that is layered and culturally aware.