As part of the 26th edition of Festival M.A.D. (Mode, Arts et Divertissement), Montreal will host the 2nd edition of the Italian Fashion Days in the World with the exhibition “Italia è Moda”, an exceptional showcase celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation of Made in Italy.
The first stop of an international tour, the exhibition marks the launch of a global project aimed at promoting the excellence of Italian fashion and its creative industries around the world.
Curated by Clara Tosi Pamphili, the exhibition unfolds as a theatrical stage where garments, accessories, and iconic objects engage in a dialogue through different moments of everyday life—daywear, eveningwear, and sportswear. The exhibition features creations by renowned Italian fashion houses alongside works by emerging designers, as well as a representative selection from Italy’s leather goods, footwear, eyewear, jewelry, and cosmetics sectors.
Among the highlights are two original costumes from Federico Fellini’s Casanova, designed by costume designer Danilo Donati and created by Sartoria Farani, which won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in 1977. The exhibition is further enhanced by audiovisual content and interactive digital installations illustrating the creative processes and heritage of the participating Italian companies.
August 17, 4:30 p.m.: Official opening of the exhibition (by invitation only).
Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
900 René-Lévesque Boulevard West, Montreal
The exhibition will be open to the public from Tuesday, August 18, through Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Launched in 2025, the “Italia è Moda” initiative is part of a broader strategy of cultural and economic diplomacy aimed at promoting Italian creativity through Italy’s diplomatic and cultural network worldwide. As the first international stop of this new journey, Montreal reaffirms its role as a creative metropolis while strengthening the longstanding cultural and economic ties between Canada and Italy.
The participating trade associations are: Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Confindustria Moda, ANFAO (Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers Association), CAM – Confindustria Accessori Moda, CNA Federmoda, CNA Orafi, Confartigianato Imprese, Cosmetica Italia, Federorafi, and Altagamma.
The initiative, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), is organized with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa, the Consulate General of Italy in Montreal, the Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal, and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA/ICE) – Montreal Office.