Fendi has chosen the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GNAMC) in Rome as the venue for its first Couture collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, debuting on July 9, 2026. The Autumn/Winter 2026-2027 show marks Chiuri’s official debut as creative director of the Roman maison’s haute couture line. In conjunction with the event, guests will receive a private preview of the exhibition "AFTER UN PERCORSO DI LAVORO. FENDI / KARL LAGERFELD 1985. AFTER STEPS THROUGH WORK," which explores the creative dialogue between Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld, who served as creative director until his death in 2019. The exhibition opens to the public from July 10 to October 25, 2026.
This event matters because it underscores Fendi’s ongoing strategy of intertwining fashion, art, and cultural heritage by activating iconic Roman venues. The choice of a major state art museum for a fashion show and exhibition highlights the growing convergence between luxury fashion and the institutional art world, reinforcing Rome’s identity as a cultural capital. For Maria Grazia Chiuri, the debut represents a pivotal moment in her career, while the Lagerfeld exhibition pays homage to one of fashion’s most influential creative partnerships, further cementing Fendi’s historical narrative.