The LVMH Prize Unveils 20 Semifinalists for its 2026 Edition: A Global Fashion Talent Hunt
PARIS -- The LVMH Prize for Young Designers has unveiled the 20 semifinalists for its 13th edition, casting a wide net to discover the next big names in fashion. This prestigious contest, backed by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, is on a mission to nurture and showcase emerging talent from around the world.
The 2026 edition's semifinalists represent a diverse range of fashion capitals, including major players like France, Italy, and the UK, as well as newcomers from Georgia, Kenya, and Thailand. Their collections showcase a fusion of contemporary elegance, bold designs, and unique craftsmanship, with a strong emphasis on material research.
These designers will gather in Paris on March 4th and 5th during Fashion Week to present their creations to the press and a panel of industry experts. The experts will then vote to select the eight finalists, who will go on to compete for the grand prize.
The public will also have a say, voting for their favorite collection online from March 4th to 8th. This year's unique twist sees the showroom held at the iconic La Samaritaine department store, as LVMH's headquarters undergo renovations.
The shortlist features a mix of menswear, womenswear, and genderless designers. Among them is Kartik Kumra's Kartik Research label, which previously reached the semifinals in 2023. The overall winner will receive a substantial prize of 400,000 euros and mentorship from LVMH experts in various fields, including sustainability, marketing, and financial management.
The 2026 LVMH Prize also introduces a new category, recognizing three fashion school graduates with 10,000 euros each and the opportunity to join a renowned fashion house within the LVMH group. This year's edition attracted over 2,400 applications from aspiring designers worldwide, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony later this year.
The LVMH Prize has a stellar track record of launching careers, having propelled talents like Marine Serre, Duran Lantink, and Grace Wales Bonner to success. Last year's winner, Soshi Otsuki, gained recognition for his oversized suits inspired by the '80s era of Giorgio Armani.
Here's a glimpse into the diverse semifinalists:
Menswear and Womenswear:
- IAMISIGO by Bubu Ogisi (Nigeria)
- Kartik Research by Kartik Kumra (India)
- LII by Zane Li (China)
- PONTE by Harry Pontefract (UK)
Womenswear:
- Colleen Allen (USA)
- De Pino by Gabriel Figueiredo (France)
- Golshaah by Golnar Ahmadian (Iran)
- Julie Kegels (Belgium)
- Maz Manuela Álvarez by Manuela Álvarez (Colombia)
- Petra Fagerström (Sweden)
- Yoshita 1967 by Anil Padia (Kenya)
Menswear:
- Derrick by Luke Derrick (UK)
- Shinyakozuka by Shinya Kozuka (Japan)
- Ssstein by Kiichiro Asakawa (Japan)
Genderless:
- Act N°1 by Luca Lin (Italy)
- Institution by Galib Gassanoff (Georgia)
- Kinyan Lam (China)
- Nong Rak by Cherry W. Rain-Phuangfueang and Teerapat Phuangfueang (USA and Thailand)
- The Vxlley by Daniel del Valle Fernandez (Spain)
- Tiscar Espadas by Tiscar Espadas and Kevin Kohler (Spain and Switzerland)
