2026 Salon International de la Lingerie: My Impressions

By ESTELLE PULESTON

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself back at the Salon International de la Lingerie in Paris for the second time after attending as a complete trade show newbie last year.

The show took place in a different hall this time and it felt much more spacious, and more elevated too. Practically everyone I spoke to who’d also been there in 2025 commented on how much nicer it was this year, and not just because the Interfilière textiles show was on a separate floor instead of squeezed into the same space as the lingerie. The layout, the lighting… it just felt bigger, brighter and more upbeat.

Although I only learned about their existence after I’d left on the last day, a new-for-2026 highlight was supposedly fitting rooms so that potential buyers could actually try on the garments (sample sizes permitting) and judge the fit for themselves. There were also catwalk shows, expert talks, and for the second year running, ‘The Lingerie Shop’.

A concept introduced in 2025 to browse the brand’s key pieces away from their booths, in case you can’t get an appointment or just fancy a quick peek, The Lingerie Shop took pride of place at this year’s Salon, being set up in the center of exhibition instead of relegated to a corner as it was previously.

A mix of intriguing ‘showpiece’ displays and rails arranged by principal color trends, I love this feature as a way to discover and explore more of what’s on show between appointments, since even visiting for the full three days simply isn’t long enough to meet with every brand individually. It’s a big show!

That said, over and over I heard that although a brilliant event this year, the Salon International today just doesn’t compare to the size it used to be. Other intimate apparel trade shows are shrinking too, I’m told. In today’s technological world, there are other (and much cheaper) ways for brands to reach potential B2B customers. Plus, the surge in DTC-focused brands means wholesale isn’t always a pressing consideration.

And yet the general consensus from those I spoke to was that the January Salon International de la Lingerie still remains the place to go for a dynamic, large-scale exhibition that gives you a view of what’s happening in the intimates industry on a global scale. There may be a particular focus on French brands, naturally, but plenty also make the journey from wider Europe, the US, and further afield to show off their wares.

It’s a real mix of both industry giants, such as Chantelle and Simone Pérèle, and younger emerging brands (located in the Exposed and Ulule sections), and there was everything on display from everyday basics to fun fashion looks, all the way through to true couture creations – a particular favorite of mine being a sheer tulle robe by Italian brand Nueame, embellished at the neck, hem and shoulder with tiny, individually sewn and attached petals.

Key trends I took away from the show included a continued demand for ultra-sleek, seamless essentials that make use of modern technologies such as bonded seams, a focus on natural fibers (in particular, silk) from the slower-fashion brands, and an emphasis on designing pieces that specifically give the customer the option to style them as outerwear. Bras were for the most part light and unpadded, with even the more structured designs frequently incorporating spacer fabric for an airy feel.

And as for colors, recurring themes were elevated neutrals, especially rich off-whites – a perfect tie-in with Pantone’s 2026 color of the year, “Cloud Dancer” – and sophisticated fashion styles in a jewel-toned palette of purple, navy blue and a little green.

There was plenty to see that felt fun and fresh, and I left with a renewed excitement for what we’ll see from the lingerie world in 2026 and beyond.

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