From Antwerp to Paris, nine emerging designers stepped into one of fashion’s most influential rooms where Julie Kegels ultimately emerged as the winner of the 2026 LVMH Prize.
Paris has no shortage of important fashion moments, but few carry quite the same weight for emerging designers as the LVMH Prize. This year, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, nine finalists representing a new generation of international creativity presented their work before a jury filled with some of the most influential names in contemporary fashion.
The room brought together established creative power and emerging ambition. Jonathan Anderson, Phoebe Philo, Nicolas Ghesquière, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pharrell Williams were among the industry figures involved in judging the next generation of fashion talent, alongside LVMH Prize founder and Dior CEO Delphine Arnault.
For the nine finalists, it was more than a competition. It was a moment of visibility an opportunity to present their creative worlds directly to the people shaping the global luxury industry.
Photo: LVMH Prize
Julie Kegels Takes the Prize
Belgian designer Julie Kegels emerged as the winner of the 2026 LVMH Prize, selected from an extraordinary pool of 2,400 applicants.
Based in Antwerp, Kegels has developed a distinctive design language rooted in femininity but never confined by conventional ideas of what feminine dressing should look like. Her work introduces an unexpected, slightly off-centre perspective—balancing recognisable silhouettes with details that challenge the familiar.
That tension between elegance and experimentation is perhaps what makes her work feel particularly relevant today. In a fashion landscape increasingly crowded with references and nostalgia, emerging designers are being asked to offer more than beautiful clothes. They need to build a point of view.
Kegels’ victory is a reminder that a strong fashion identity still matters.
Julie Kegels. Photo: Courtesy of LVMH Prize
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Julie Kegels was awarded the 2026 LVMH Prize in Paris.
The prize comes with €400,000 and a year of mentorship from LVMH experts—an opportunity that provides not only financial support but also access to the knowledge and infrastructure needed to transform an emerging label into a sustainable international business.
Nine Designers, Nine Different Visions
One of the most compelling aspects of this year’s LVMH Prize final was its international perspective.
Julie Kegels emerged ahead of eight other international talents in one of the prize’s most geographically diverse line-ups. Representing Belgium, the United States, France, Georgia, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain and Kenya, the nine finalists reflected a new generation of fashion increasingly shaped by ideas, identities and creative conversations that move across borders.
The 2026 LVMH Prize Finalists
- Julie Kegels — Belgium
- Colleen Allen — United States
- De Pino by Gabriel Figueiredo — France
- Institution by Galib Gassanoff — Georgia
- Lii by Zane Li — China / USA
- Petra Fagerström — Sweden
- Ponte by Harry Pontefract — United Kingdom
- The Vxlley by Daniel del Valle Fernandez — Spain
- Yoshita 1967 by Anil Padia — Kenya
Alongside Kegels, the jury recognised two other vital voices:
- The Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize: Awarded to Chongqing-born, New York-based designer Zane Li (Lii), presented by Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Li took home €200,000 and a year of LVMH mentorship for his fusion of activewear performance and couture construction.
- The Savoir-Faire Prize: Awarded to Anil Padia (Yoshita 1967), presented by Thai actress Urassaya Sperbund. As the first Kenyan finalist in the prize’s history, Padia received €200,000 and dedicated coaching for his work honouring slow production and women-led craft collectives across Kenya.
The evening painted a clear picture of fashion’s shifting reality: while creative talent has always existed globally, platforms like the LVMH Prize are helping expand access, visibility and long-term industry support for emerging designers around the world.
For the full story behind the 2026 LVMH Prize—including the winners, finalists and the future of fashion’s emerging generation—read more here.
