Belgian fashion designer Julie Kegels wins LVMH Prize 2026

Belgian fashion designer Julie Kegels has won the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers 2026, reports WWD. The prize was awarded on Friday during a ceremony at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.

The main prize includes a cash prize of 400,000 euros, supplemented by a year of coaching from experts at the luxury group LVMH.

Kegels launched her fashion label in 2024, shortly after graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. In April, she was selected as one of the nine finalists for the thirteenth edition of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.

The Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize went to Lii, the label by Chinese designer Zane Li. The award was presented by Indian actress, film producer and singer Priyanka Chopra, who is also a face of Dior. The prize includes a cash award of 200,000 euros and a year of mentorship covering areas such as sustainable development; communication; copyright and corporate legal affairs; marketing; production; and financial management.

The Savoir-Faire Prize went to Yoshita 1967, the label by Kenyan designer Anil Padia. This prize also includes a cash award of 200,000 euros and a year of mentorship. The award was presented by Louis Vuitton ambassador Urassaya ‘Yaya’ Sperbund, who was also part of the jury.

Other finalists

Alongside Kegels, Lii and Yoshita 1967, the other finalists were Petra Fagerström from Sweden; De Pino by French designer Gabriel Figueiredo; Ponte by British designer Harry Pontefract; The Vxlley by Spanish designer Daniel del Valle Fernandez; Institution by Georgian designer Galib Gassanoff; and American designer Colleen Allen.