In 2026, Fashion Museum Antwerp (MoMu) will mark the 40th anniversary of the Antwerp Six’s international breakthrough with a major exhibition, the first of its kind dedicated to the group.
The exhibition traces the shared trajectory of Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee, from their formative years at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp to the development of six distinct yet equally influential practices. While each designer established an independent voice, their emergence as a collective presence reshaped the perception of Antwerp within the global fashion landscape.
Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dirk Van Saene, 1986 | Photo: MoMu
That shift can be traced back to 1986, when the group presented their collections at the British Designer Show in London, marking a decisive international breakthrough. Their work introduced a radical alternative to prevailing fashion systems, positioning Antwerp as a city of experimentation and critical design, a legacy that continues to resonate across contemporary fashion.
The exhibition will run from 28 March 2026 to 17 January 2027, accompanied by a series of public programs. Extending beyond documentation, the accompanying publication, an extensively illustrated volume of nearly 400 pages, functions as both archive and critical framework. Featuring contributions from Tim Blanks, Romy Cockx, Kaat Debo, Angelo Flaccavento, Eugene Rabkin, among others, the book reflects on the conditions that enabled the Antwerp Six’s emergence while reassessing their continued relevance. Published by Hannibal Books and available from late March 2026, it operates not merely as a companion to the exhibition, but as an extension of its inquiry.
Fashion Museum Antwerp (MoMu), Nationalestraat 28, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Photos: Courtesy of MoMu