5 Fashion exhibitions to visit during Haute Couture week From Worth to Dior and Demna for Balenciaga

While Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week is in full swing, fashion events go far beyond the catwalks. As major fashion houses unveil their most ambitious collections, the fashion capital is also turning into an open-air museum. From Worth to Chanel, exceptional exhibitions immerse visitors in the history, reinventions, and artistic experiences surrounding couture. Here are the must-see events of the season.

1. Worth. Inventing Haute Couture

This exhibition, presented by the Palais Galliera in collaboration with the Petit Palais, pays tribute to Charles Frederick Worth, the British designer considered the father of haute couture. In the late 19th century, Worth revolutionized fashion by putting his name on his creations, working on commission, and customizing pieces for individual clients. The exhibition reveals spectacular gowns, archival sketches, and rare documents tracing the birth of the haute couture system as we know it today. A must-see to understand the roots of Parisian luxury.

The exhibition “Worth. Inventing Haute Couture” is open until September 7 at the Petit Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris.

2. Balenciaga by Demna

On Wednesday, July 9, Demna will unveil his latest FW26 collection for Balenciaga, the house he has led as artistic director since 2015. He will officially leave the role the following day, July 10, to join Gucci, a move announced back in March. To mark the occasion, Balenciaga is dedicating an exhibition at the Kering headquarters. Sculptural silhouettes, extreme volumes, and unconventional materials tell the story of how Demna has deconstructed and reimagined couture through a critical lens since 2015. A powerful tribute to innovation that resonates with the house’s groundbreaking shows.

The exhibition “Balenciaga by Demna” is open until July 9 at Kering headquarters, 40 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris.

3. Paul Poiret. Fashion is a Party

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is devoting a major retrospective to Paul Poiret, a legendary early 20th-century designer. By freeing women from corsets, exploring fluid cuts and Oriental inspirations, Poiret revolutionized the female silhouette. His love of parties, exotic settings, and rich textiles shines through in an immersive scenography. Evening gowns, sumptuous coats, and original edition perfumes reflect the boldness of a man who saw fashion as total art. This iconic Belle Époque designer inspired the likes of Christian Dior and Alphonse Maitrepierre.

The exhibition “Paul Poiret. Fashion is a Party” is open until January 11, 2026, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD), 107 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris.

4. The New Rotation at Galerie Dior

This retrospective gathers 150 designs with original sketches, archives, and photographs, showcasing Dior’s rich heritage and the timelessness of its modernity. Through thirteen themes, the exhibition explores the house’s universe: from a love of gardens to the magic of balls, from the creative freedom of the Miss Dior line to the artisanal excellence of haute couture workshops. It also offers an immersive experience in the Room of Wonders, designed as a cabinet of curiosities, and highlights Dior’s iconic elegance and the captivating aura of J’Adore.

Galerie Dior, 11 rue François-Ier, 75008 Paris. Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Tuesdays. Last entry at 5:30 p.m.

5. Moda Povera V: Renée’s Clothes

Olivier Saillard, fashion historian and performer, pays tribute to his mother Renée by transforming her wardrobe into a haute couture collection, blending fashion and memory in a moving performance. Halfway between a happening and an exhibition, this fifth edition of the Moda Povera project invites us to rethink clothing as an intimate, political, and poetic gesture. In a deliberately simple staging, it reconciles a poetic vision of fashion with independence from the luxury system, while delivering an extremely personal and emotional performance in honor of his mother, a taxi driver and part-time seamstress.

The exhibition “Moda Povera V. Renée’s Clothes” is open from July 10 to 13 at the Grand Palais, Galerie 2, Gabrielle Chanel entrance, Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris.