At Lisbon’s Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, art and couture step into conversation this spring with a new exhibition running from April 18 to June 21, 2026. Bringing together museum masterpieces and exceptional fashion pieces, the show explores how creativity transcends medium—and time.
Staged in the Main Gallery of the Headquarters Building, the exhibition pairs around 100 works from the Gulbenkian collection with approximately 140 haute couture creations spanning the past 150 years. Visitors will encounter designs from iconic houses such as Dior, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, and Guo Pei, alongside works by Portuguese designers including Alves/Gonçalves, José António Tenente, Maria Gambina, Nuno Gama, and Nuno Baltazar.
(Photo at Top: Jar China, Qing dynasty, 18th century Porcelain; gilded cast bronze mounts (France, c. 1750–55) Calouste Gulbenkian Museum | Pierre Balmain Dress c. 1960 Tulle and silk, MUDE/Coleção Francisco Capelo | Photo: © Jon Cazenave)
The exhibition unfolds as a visual dialogue between disciplines. A Givenchy creation by Sarah Burton echoes the craftsmanship of a 19th-century Japanese lacquer box, while a shimmering gown by Guo Pei resonates with the glow of an ancient Egyptian funerary mask. Elsewhere, Balenciaga’s sculptural forms find parallels in classical sculpture, and the intricate detailing of Alexander McQueen mirrors the finesse of Qing dynasty artistry.
Curated by Eloy Martínez de la Pera Celada, the show reflects founder Calouste Gulbenkian’s vision as a “collector of beauty,” drawing connections between cultures, eras, and artistic expression. With the museum’s permanent galleries temporarily closed for renovation, this exhibition offers a compelling reimagining of the collection—one where fashion becomes a lens through which to rediscover art.
Visitors can expect an immersive journey through aesthetics, storytelling, and craftsmanship—where silk, canvas, porcelain, and gold speak a shared language of design.
For more information, visit the Gulbenkian website.
Gulbenkian Museum
Avenida de Berna, 45
Lisboa
Hours
Monday to Friday – 10:00 to 18:00
Saturdays and Sundays – 10:00 to 21:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Entrance: €8-€12 (all inclusive)