From flower power to fine embroidery, the Italian fashion house returns to celebrate the beauty of Sicily.

After launching Alta Moda in Taormina 14 years ago, Dolce &amp; Gabbana has returned to the hilltop town to present its latest collection. Meaning "haute couture" in Italian, the house has shown many fine creations under, but this collection reached a new height of glamour.
Taking place at the Radicepura Horticultural Park on Monday evening, the floral setting was decorated with even more florals—à la Dolce, if you will—while the outline of Mount Etna in the distance topped it off. As over 300 attendees filed in, models either stood up or sat down in luxurious chairs before the collection commenced.
Before the first model stepped foot on the colorful set, a fantastical narrator had something to say before a jaw-dropping 99 looks walked down the runway.
"There are places that belong to mortals and those that belong to the gods. But there are special nights when the gods leave the celestial vault and descend into the heart of the Mediterranean in Sicily. And waiting for them are the devotees. Real women, Sicilian women, women who have always preserved the deepest meaning of devotion. The devotees gather roses, jasmine, and orange blossom; they weave garlands, and like priestesses, they adorn the altars in a ritual of eternal beauty. Every gesture is an homage, every embroidery a prayer, every dress a declaration of love."

Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda 2026. Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana.

As the narrator continued with his story, Léonie Cassel, the 16-year-old daughter of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel, commenced the elegant spectacle in a black tulle gown that was dripping in a variety of flowers. Notably, she carried a bouquet of blue baby's breath while the flowers decorated her braided brunette ponytail.&nbsp;
Classic brand staples like black lace, blooming botanics, and cross jewelry complemented many shades of fringe, museum-worthy dresses, and dreamy faux furs in lapels, shawls, and coats. Throughout the show, the narrator called out each model's name to move from their original position and walk down the runway in their respective theatrical ensemble.
To close out the one-of-a-kind procession, four gowns that featured cathedral-length veils and stellar handwork through the garment elevated the idea of a Sicilian goddess. Gowns in aquamarine blue, sorbet red, and lemon yellow paraded down the runway, creating a vibrant vision of opulence. However, the final "Isola Bella" shade decorated in florals all over is the Sicilian sea at its best. For the finale, models walked to Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers," the perfect track to round out an impressive group of high-fashion Italian creations.
The guest list was made up of VICS and stars alike, with attendees including Jennifer Lopez, Erling Haaland, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, Monica Bellucci, Lady Kitty Spencer, Ali Samli, Christian Bale, Sibi Blazic, Francesca Fagnani, Edward Enninful, Isabella Rossellini, Skye Hankey, and Nichapat Suphap, amongst others.
Just as the show notes mentioned, "At the heart of this collection is a devotion to beauty." For the brand's second event under a three-day spectacular, Alta Moda really showed what La Dolce Vita can be—for goddesses and clients alike. To round out this year's event, Alta Sartoria, the brand's menswear couture-like counterpart, will have its show on Tuesday evening, reinstating Dolce &amp; Gabbana's deep love and appreciation for Taormina.
Below, explore all of the looks from the Dolce &amp; Gabbana 2026 Alta Moda collection.

Dolce & Gabbana Returns To Taormina For Alta Moda 2026

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