Finalists chosen from across the globe, including first-time representation from Kenya
Key Takeaways
- The jury includes major creative leaders from across LVMH and the wider fashion industry, including Jonathan Anderson, Sarah Burton, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Nicolas Ghesquière, Marc Jacobs, Phoebe Philo, Pharrell Williams, and others.
- The 2026 LVMH Prize final will take place on Friday, September 4, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
- Nine finalists were selected from more than 2,400 applicants.
- The shortlist includes designers from the United States, France, Georgia, Belgium, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Kenya.
- This year marks the first time a designer from Kenya has reached the final.
LVMH has announced the nine finalists for the 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, setting the stage for a final that will take place on September 4 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
The finalists were selected following the semi-final, held March 4 and 5 at La Samaritaine in Paris, where 20 young designers presented their work to the Prize’s committee of experts. This year’s edition drew more than 2,400 candidates, underscoring the Prize’s continued role as one of fashion’s most visible platforms for emerging talent.
The 2026 shortlist reflects a broad geographic range, with designers from the United States, Europe, China, and Kenya. The inclusion of Anil Padia of YOSHITA 1967 marks a first for the Prize, bringing a Kenyan designer into the final round. Across the group, the emphasis falls on distinctive creative identity, craft-led development, and labels working across womenswear, menswear, and genderless collections.
The nine finalists are: COLLEEN ALLEN by Colleen Allen from the United States; DE PINO by Gabriel Figueiredo from France; INSTITUTION by Galib Gassanoff from Georgia; JULIE KEGELS by Julie Kegels from Belgium; LII by Zane Li from China; PETRA FAGERSTRÖM by Petra Fagerström from Sweden; PONTE by Harry Pontefract from the United Kingdom; THE VXLLEY by Daniel del Valle Fernandez from Spain; and YOSHITA 1967 by Anil Padia from Kenya.
At the September final, the jury will select the winner of the LVMH Prize, the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, and the Savoir-Faire Prize. The latter, introduced to recognize excellence in craft and technical development, continues to sharpen the Prize’s focus on the material intelligence behind fashion’s next generation.
This year’s jury brings together creative directors and senior leaders from across the group and beyond. Members include Jonathan Anderson, Sarah Burton, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Nicolas Ghesquière, Marc Jacobs, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Stella McCartney, Camille Miceli, Nigo, Phoebe Philo, Michael Rider, and Pharrell Williams, alongside Delphine Arnault, Pietro Beccari, Jean-Paul Claverie, and Sidney Toledano.
Delphine Arnault, Chairman and CEO of Christian Dior and founder of the LVMH Prize, highlighted the international reach of the 2026 edition and the sophistication of the finalists’ approaches to traditional craftsmanship. She also welcomed new jury members Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, Camille Miceli, Michael Rider, and Pietro Beccari.
For LVMH, the Prize remains both a cultural signal and a talent pipeline. Its finalists often point to where independent fashion is gaining momentum: through craft, identity, and a more global understanding of what luxury design can become.