ROMAN HOMAGE: Paying tribute to Rome and to Valentino’s origins, creative director Alessandro Michele has chosen the 17th century Palazzo Barberini as the location for the brand’s fall 2026 fashion show on March 12.
As reported, Valentino revealed in December that the brand would exceptionally hold its next ready-to-wear fashion show in Rome, without disclosing the location. The brand is decamping from Paris for one season, and will return to the French capital with subsequent fashion show. In January, it held its theatrical and dreamy spring couture show in Paris.
While fashion events have been previously held at Palazzo Barberini, Valentino’s will be the first fashion show at the venue. Michele selected Rome for the fall show ahead of the death of the founder, Valentino Garavani, in January, aged 93.
Exemplifying the Baroque style, Palazzo Barberini houses Italy’s main collection of antique paintings, the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, and was designed by three of the most important architects of the 17th century, Carlo Maderno, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini — all elements that spoke to Michele, who has strong ties to Rome, his hometown. When he was creative director of Gucci, he held that brand’s cruise 2020 collection at the Capitoline Museums, a group of art and archeological museums dubbed as the most antique in the world, founded in 1471.
Michele joined Valentino in March 2024, succeeding Pierpaolo Piccioli.
Valentino last held a show in Rome in July 2022, when Piccioli unveiled the brand’s fall 2022 haute couture on Piazza Mignanelli and on the nearby landmark Spanish Steps.
Also, the show will coincide with a landmark initiative starting Saturday, as the Galleria will stage the exhibition “Bernini and the Barberinis” for the 400th anniversary of the consecration of the new Saint Peter’s Basilica. It will illustrate the relationship between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Maffeo Barberini, his first patron who was elected pope in 1623 with the name Urban VIII, and who discovered the artist. The exhibit, curated by Andrea Bacchi and Maurizia Cicconi, will run until June 14.
Valentino has been helmed by chief executive officer Riccardo Bellini since September, succeeding Jacopo Venturini.
