Milan is preparing to reclaim the spotlight as the global fashion caravan arrives for Milan Fashion Week, running from 23 to 29 September 2025, with a program that promises history-making debuts, poignant tributes, and the kind of front-row electricity only Italy’s style capital can deliver.
The women’s Spring/Summer 2026 collections will dominate the runways, but the week itself extends far beyond the catwalks, with exhibitions, installations, and free public events woven into the city’s cultural fabric.
The official calendar, coordinated by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, begins on Tuesday with Diesel’s 3:00 p.m. show, followed by the most anticipated event of the season: Demna’s debut for Gucci at 7:00 p.m. on Via Mecenate. The Georgian designer’s first outing for the storied house is expected to redefine its aesthetic language, making it one of the year’s most closely watched fashion moments.
Other key debuts include Simone Bellotti’s inaugural collection for Jil Sander on 24 September, Louise Trotter’s arrival at Bottega Veneta on 27 September, and London-based KNWLS making its Milan debut the same week. Heritage heavyweights punctuate the schedule: Fendi on the 24th, Prada on the 25th, and Dolce & Gabbana on the 27th. The grand finale comes with Giorgio Armani’s 50th-anniversary celebration on 28 September at Palazzo Brera’s Cortile d’Onore, a show that doubles as a tribute to the late maestro, who passed earlier this year at age 91.
This edition will also bear a reflective tone, with Milan hosting the first major retrospective of legendary photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, who helped define postwar Italian glamour through his cinematic portraits of icons from Audrey Hepburn to Naomi Campbell. As Carlo Capasa, president of the National Chamber for Italian Fashion, stressed, “We are celebrating Milan Fashion Week in the memory of one of its founding fathers.”
Beyond the runway, the Fashion Hub at Palazzo Giureconsulti will open its doors to the public, spotlighting sustainability-focused projects like Designers for the Planet and emerging international talent from Seoul to Mongolia. Meanwhile, Fondazione Sozzani will host the Fashion Philippines Milan Mentorship Program 2025, offering free entry to those who register.
Completing the picture is Palazzo Morando – Costume Moda Immagine, which hosts exhibitions and off-schedule events exploring fashion and costume history. Visitors can also expect immersive installations across Brera and the Quadrilatero, and possibly the return of the giant Piazza dei Mercanti screen broadcasting live shows.
Tickets for the main runway events remain strictly invitation-only, but Milan Fashion Week continues to make space for everyone: with free exhibitions, registration-based talks, and ticketed independent shows, the city itself becomes a sprawling stage for fashion, art, and culture.
From Demna’s Gucci debut to Armani’s final bow, Milan Fashion Week 2025 stands as both a celebration of the future and a farewell to the titans who shaped its past.
Seven days, countless shows, and unforgettable tributes—Milan Fashion Week will define the season. Share your thoughts with us on X and Instagram, and head to Lyrical Muse for more fashion week coverage.
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