Vivienne Westwood Makes Its Debut At Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week

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These are all the highlights from Vivienne Westwood's 2026 bridal show

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When it comes to bridal, no one does it quite like Vivienne Westwood. The luxury house has long been committed to infusing punk spirit into the wedding wardrobe, designing for the bride that wants to trump tradition in the best way. But, in all its years making wedding dresses, this is the first time Vivienne Westwood has sent an entire bridal collection down the runway – and this one gave us a glimpse of the label’s upcoming 2026 line. Here’s everything you need to know.

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Vivienne Westwood Unveils 2026 Bridal Collection

With its 19th century arches, neogothic columns and pretty orange blossom tree courtyard, the University of Barcelona’s cloister is one of the most romantic settings for a bridal show. And such a historic setting deserved a similarly historic moment in fashion.

Last night kicked off the 2025 edition of Barcelona Bridal Night, with a headline offering from British label Vivienne Westwood. The show marked Vivienne Westwood’s first ever runway show dedicated entirely to bridal – as well as its debut at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week.

Following in the footsteps of other high-profile bridal designers, including Elie Saab, Giambattista Vallie and Marchesa, Vivienne Westwood brought both romance and rebellion to the runway (and an audience of more than 450 guests).

‘Bridal has always been an important part of the house, since I started working with Vivienne in the early 90s,’ said Andreas Kronthaler, Creative Director of Vivienne Westwood. ‘We are delighted to be showing our first bridal show here in this fantastic city.’

Style Notes

The luxury house sent 35 looks down the runway, taken from its upcoming 2026 made-to-order and couture bridal collections. The looks were co-developed over more than six months by Kronthaler and Brigitte Stepputtis, the brand’s director of couture, design and bridalwear.

But the starting point for the collection was closer than audiences realised. Kronthaler looked to the city of Barcelona itself, noting how, ‘we took the grandeur of the boulevards and architecture as our first point of inspiration.

‘When I was designing, I was thinking about Barcelona and what would suit the city,’ he added in an interview with Fashion Network. ‘[It’s] incredible, stimulating, and full of life.’

Being Vivienne Westwood’s first all-bridal runway, Kronthaler also wanted to pay tribute to the house’s stylistic legacy with the 2026 collections. ‘It’s a pot pourri of past, present and future,’ he noted. ‘Corsetry is the foundation; it enhances you and gives you presence. And tailoring – to add a masculine flair.

‘There is also linen and cotton, washed georgette and chiffon, to make things look as if they have been worn time and again,’ he continued. ‘The lightest organza, lots of lace, and pale pink duchesse from Italy.’

Several designs also reinterpreted the label’s signature rose print, which was inspired by the watercolours of 18th century botanist Pierre-Joseph Redouté. ‘We added orange blossom from the courtyard of the university, a symbol of purity and beauty; subdued and layered with tulle – tender, romantic,’ said Kronthaler. ‘Rich jacquard in “Absence of roses” – classical.’

And, nestled amongst the softness, there had to be something a little edgier; tight silhouettes, pink gloves and veils, asymmetrical hemlines, off-the-scale corsages and long, heavy chains draped around the models’ necks. After all, these weren’t just any brides – they were Vivienne Westwood brides.

‘Each character tells a story,’ confirmed Kronthaler. ‘Simonetta (Gianfelici) wears the Madame de Pompadour gown, inspired by the François Boucher painting (1759), this time in white. Vivienne would have loved it – it was her favourite dress of all time.’