For the first time ever, the Antwerp Six will be honoured with an exhibition dedicated solely to their pioneering design language and their pivotal role in placing Antwerp firmly on the global fashion map. Opening in 2026, the Fashion Museum Antwerp (MoMu) will mark the international breakthrough of the radical design collective exactly forty years after their rise began.
Tracing their journey from its earliest origins, the retrospective will provide a detailed account of their ascent and reinforce their enduring cultural and creative influence. Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee each studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp before collectively travelling to London in 1986 to show their collections during the British Designer Show. Their debut sparked six extraordinary solo careers, each defined by a commitment to distinct ideation, technical rigour, and an unwavering sense of identity.
“The Antwerp Six helped shape recent fashion history. We are immensely proud that we can bring the work of these six iconic designers together for a unique, in-depth view of their legacy and their influence,” said Kaat Debo, Director of MoMu, in a statement regarding the upcoming exhibition.
This long anticipated showcase aims to explore the depth and breadth of their impact on the contemporary fashion landscape. Renowned for their avant-garde spirit, the collective charged Antwerp with a creative momentum that continues to resonate worldwide. Their legacy has nurtured new generations of inventive designers emerging from the same city they once called home. From the internationally acclaimed Raf Simons, Prada’s Co-Creative Director, to promising new voices such as Julie Kegels, Antwerp remains a vibrant incubator of talent. The forthcoming exhibition stands as an important testament to the ingenuity of these six trailblazers and promises to deliver the richly deserved retrospective that fashion audiences have awaited.
Running for a full ten months, from 28 March 2026 through 17 January 2027, the exhibition will be accompanied by a dynamic programme of public events and talks. An extensive publication, released by Hannibal, will complement the showcase and features contributions from Tim Blanks, Romy Cockx, Kaat Debo, Angelo Flaccavento, Eugene Rabkin, and others.
