This morning, the LVMH Prize–a prestigious incubator for emerging designers that counts Simon Porte Jacquemus, Grace Wales Bonner, and Duran Lantink as past recipients–announced its 2026 class of semifinalists.
The list features a few familiar faces, including the New York-based designer Colleen Allen, who was nominated for the CFDA’s 2025 Emerging Designer of the Year; Tíscar Espadas, winner of the 2024 Spanish Vogue Fashion Fund; and Kartik Research, a 2023 LVMH Prize semifinalist who recently dressed Zohran Mamdani during the New York City mayoral inauguration. (Last year’s LVMH Prize winner, Soshiotsuki, had also been shortlisted for the award in 2016.) The 20 nominees span 17 countries, including, for the first time, Georgia, Kenya, and Thailand.
“I am delighted by the worldwide success of the LVMH Prize,” said Delphine Arnault, the chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture and founder of the LVMH Prize, in a statement. “Once again, I have the privilege of unveiling a shortlist of remarkable talents. Their collections span contemporary elegance, bold designs, and even one-of-a-kind pieces. Craftsmanship and research into materials lie at the heart of their creations,” she noted.
The 2026 LVMH Prize winner will receive a €400,000 endowment and one year of mentorship from LVMH experts. The winners of the Karl Lagerfeld Prize and the Savoir-Faire Prize will each receive a €200,000 allocation and one year of mentorship from LVMH experts.
The 20 nominees will present their collections at the semifinalist showroom in Paris on March 4 and 5, 2026 to the LVMH Prize Committee of Experts, which is composed of over 80 industry specialists. From March 4 to 8, the public will also have a chance to discover the designers and vote alongside the industry experts on LVMH’s digital platform, lvmhprize.com. Eight designers will move forward to the finals. Meet the full roster of 2026 LVMH Prize semifinalists below.
Act N°1 by Luca Lin, Italy, genderless collections
Colleen Allen by Colleen Allen, United States, womenswear
De Pino by Gabriel Figueiredo, France, womenswear
Derrick by Luke Derrick, United Kingdom, menswear
Golsaah by Golnar Ahmadian, Iran, womenswear
Iamisigo by Bubu Ogisi, Nigeria, womenswear and menswear
Institution by Galib Gassanoff, Georgia, womenswear, menswear and genderless collections
Julie Kegels by Julie Kegels, Belgium, womenswear
Kartik Research by Kartik Kumra, India, womenswear and menswear
Kinyan Lam by Kinyan Lam, China, genderless collections
Lii by Zane Li, China, womenswear and menswear
Maz Manuela Álvarez by Manuela Álvarez, Colombia, womenswear
Nong Rak by Cherry W. Rain-Phuanfueang, United States, and Teerapat Phuangfueang, Thailand, womenswear, menswear and genderless collections
Petra Fagerström by Petra Fagerström, Sweden, womenswear
Ponte by Harry Pontefract, United Kingdom, womenswear and menswear
Shinyakozuka by Shinya Kozuka, Japan, menswear
Ssstein by Kiichiro Asakawa, Japan, menswear and genderless collections
Thevxlley by Daniel del Valle Fernandez, Spain, genderless collections
Tíscar Espadas by Tíscar Espadas, Spain, and Kevin Kohler, Switzerland, genderless collections
Yoshita 1967 by Anil Padia, Kenya, womenswear
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