THIRD-ANNUAL MEMPHIS ART & FASHION WEEK, HEADLINED BY MICHAEL NGO, RETURNS BIGGER & BOLDER MAY 4-9
LA-Based Designer Michael Ngo—Known for Dressing Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and BLACKPINK—Leads 2026 Program at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
Press images can be found here.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (February 13, 2026) – Style, creativity, and community take center stage May 4–9 as the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art presents the third-annual Memphis Art & Fashion Week, a seven day celebration of cultural expression headlined by internationally recognized designer Michael Ngo.
Memphis Art & Fashion Week has quickly become a highlight on the city’s cultural calendar, uniting the region’s leading designers, retailers, stylists, and creative tastemakers with national talent. Built with local partners and shaped through major collaborations, the program continues to grow in scale and ambition—expanding public programming, opening doors for designers, and creating space for Memphis’ style community to connect, be seen, and shape what comes next. From studios to storefronts, the week strengthens the creative ecosystem that supports fashion in the city year-round.
The 2026 program is anchored by Ngo’s headline runway presentation, featuring dozens of original designs—including some created specifically for Memphis—alongside work by designers from across the region. A full week of programs surrounds the show, inviting audiences behind the scenes and carrying the energy of the runway into the wider city.
Ngo began designing in 2011 and made his runway debut at Los Angeles Fashion Week just three years later, launching a career at the intersection of fashion, performance, and pop culture. Known for dressing major artists including Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and BLACKPINK, he has become a go-to designer for music, film, television, and the red carpet. His work is defined by bold silhouettes, high-impact detail, and a deep understanding of movement and stage presence. In 2026, Ngo brings his signature vision to Memphis, spotlighting the city as a creative destination.
“I’m bringing some of my favorite new work to Memphis,” said Ngo. “I designed some exclusive pieces for this special runway show, with the city and museum in mind. There’s such a strong sense of style and curiosity here, and I’m excited to be part of that.”
Memphis Art & Fashion Week opens May 4 with a Met Gala Watch Party, featuring red carpet arrivals, themed looks, and the finale of the Shop Memphis Fashion Passport raffle. On May 6, the Fashion Show Lunch highlights styled looks from premier local retailers. On May 7, Art & Aperitifs: Michael Ngo brings designers and audiences together for a public conversation led by Memphis Art & Fashion Week Creative Director Ramona Sonin, featuring stylist Joey Thao, who recently styled Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime look, and celebrity jeweler Kyle Chan, whose designs have appeared on Bravo stars and in major film wardrobes including La La Land. The program is preceded by a signing and photo opportunity.
The culminating Runway + Afterparty on May 8 transforms the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art into a live runway. Models move through the museum as original collections from selected designers come to life in front of a full audience, with categories such as Avant Garde, Trashion, and Natural World encouraging experimentation with materials, structure, and reuse. Produced with Memphis Art & Fashion Week’s Creative Director Ramona Sonin and the University of Memphis Fashion Program, the show brings together designers at every stage of their careers on one runway.
“I love watching how the city shows up for this week,” said Sonin. “Designers, artists, students, stylists, shop owners, and the people who simply love fashion all come together in the same space. The events throughout the week, culminating in the runway finale, create a place to connect, to be seen, and to take creative risks. That’s where a real fashion community begins — when everyone chooses to show up for each other.”
Community participation is central to the program through the Shop Memphis Fashion Passport, an initiative that encourages the city to support participating local businesses throughout the month leading up to Memphis Art & Fashion Week. Passports are available at select retailers with stamps earned through purchases, social media engagement using #ShopMemphis, visits, purchases or verified reviews. Included are businesses like Gould's Salon and Spa, a family-owned and run business that has been in Memphis for 94 years, and the newly-opened Only Facial. Completed passports may be submitted at the museum for entry into a grand prize drawing at the Met Gala Watch Party, with additional perks offered by participating businesses.
Led by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in partnership with the University of Memphis Fashion Program, Memphis Art & Fashion Week functions as a professional launchpad for emerging designers and creatives. The initiative is supported by the museum’s Couture Collective, a donor circle dedicated to advancing fashion as an art form and strengthening the city’s creative ecosystem. The Couture Collective is generously supported by Hemline Theory.
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About Memphis Art Museum
Opening in December 2026 along the Mississippi River, Memphis Art Museum is the reimagined home of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. As a 123,500-square-foot cultural campus, it offers expanded galleries, abundant public spaces, and new studios for learning and creativity. Designed as an open invitation to the city, the museum serves as a home for creativity and community, where Memphians and visitors gather, connect, and experience the power of art. With world-class architecture, a rooftop sculpture garden, and year-round cultural programming.
Media Contacts:
Kelly Helton, kelly.helton@memphisartmuseum.org | 901-590-6935
For full press release, please refer to the downloadable PDF.