450 pieces, sketches and photographs by Helmut Newton: the Gianni Versace retrospective moves to the Musée Maillol this summer
In 2026, Paris hosts a rare event in the world of fashion and culture. Gianni Versace returns to the French capital with a major retrospective, and the itinerary holds many surprises for those who think they already know everything about the Italian couturier.
An extraordinary retrospective at the Musée Maillol
Since June 5, 2026, the Musée Maillol, located at 59-61 rue de Grenelle in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, has been hosting the Gianni Versace Retrospective. After stops in London, Berlin and Malaga, this traveling exhibition, produced by the Dreamrealizer company, is now in Paris.
With almost 450 pieces brought together in a single venue, this is the largest exhibition devoted to the designer to be presented in France since the late 80s. This unique panorama of the couturier’s legacy will be enjoyed by fashion enthusiasts and the culturally curious alike.
The scenography has been entrusted to Nathalie Crinière, whose work includes the “Dior, couturier du rêve” tour presented in 2017 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Her approach promises, therefore, a staging equal to the scope of the subject.
A variety of pieces, from sketches to fashion photography
The tour is not limited to clothes. There are silhouettes and accessories, as well as sketches, decorative objects, videos and photographs by Helmut Newton, Patrick Demarchelier and Mario Testino.
The exhibition also traces the couturier’s development from his first steps in the family workshop in southern Italy to the founding of his eponymous fashion house. This chronological journey allows us to grasp the full depth of a creative vision built up over several decades.
“With almost 450 pieces on show to the general public, the Gianni Versace Retrospective is the largest exhibition devoted to the couturier to be presented in France since the late 1980s.
Couture, ready-to-wear and pop culture: a triptych at the heart of the tour
Ready-to-wear takes center stage in this retrospective. However, the exhibition doesn’t stop there: it also looks back at the Atelier Versace Haute-Couture line launched in 1989, now supported by the Prada group, which is due to make its return to the catwalk in the near future.
Thirty years after the designer’s tragic death in Miami, the tour highlights Gianni Versace ‘s imprint on pop culture in the early 90s. His famous friendships with Madonna, Elton John, George Michael and Princess Diana are documented and put into context.
His collaborations with an entire generation of supermodels are also highlighted. Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer are among the faces who have embodied his flamboyant style on the catwalk.
- 450 pieces brought together for the first time in France on this scale since the late 1980s
- Silhouettes, accessories, sketches, decorative objects, videos and photographs on the program
- Set design by Nathalie Crinière, already at work on “Dior, couturier du rêve” in 2017
- Fashion photos by Helmut Newton, Patrick Demarchelier and Mario Testino
- Exhibition produced by Dreamrealizer, not officially associated with Gianni Versace S.r.l. or the Versace family.
Part of a busy cultural calendar
In 2026, Paris is multiplying the number of cultural events linked to luxury and fashion. This retrospective is therefore part of a particularly rich agenda for lovers of the genre.
The exhibition remains open until September 6, 2026, giving the public three months to make the trip. Reservations are available on the dedicated event page.
What this exhibition on the couturier’s legacy reminds us of
To revisit the work of Gianni Versace in such a setting is also to measure the distance covered by the House since its foundation. The retrospective retraces a trajectory that goes far beyond simple clothing: it recounts the birth of a visual language rooted in controlled excess and assumed sensuality.
In this way, visitors can better understand why the designer’s style has endured the decades without ageing. The codes he laid down in the 80s and 90s continue to nourish contemporary fashion, long after his death.
Please note that this event is produced by Dreamrealizer and is not officially associated with Gianni Versace S.r.l. or the Versace family. This clarification is important for visitors wishing to place the project in its exact context.
On the other hand, the aim of the exhibition remains unchanged: to offer the Parisian public a complete and sensitive reading of a designer whose influence on world fashion remains, even today, difficult to match.
