New York may have the Met Gala, but Paris too has unveiled its own prestigious fashion event. On March 4, the world’s most famous museum will welcome the fashion elite for a gala evening and dinner in the Cour Marly, the Louvre museum’s majestic centrepiece, perfectly timed to coincide with the womenswear fashion week buzz in the French capital.

Sponsored by Visa Infinite, the evening will bring together top-tier fashion houses and designers to raise funds in support of the museum’s initiatives. The Grand Dîner du Louvre serves as an extension of the Louvre Couture: objets d’art, objets de mode exhibition, which will be on display through July 2025.

“For the first time in its history, the Louvre will host an exhibition entirely dedicated to fashion, its origins, and inspirations,” the museum announced in a statement. “This unprecedented and historic showcase will unfold within the very heart of our collections, engaging in a vibrant dialogue with the masterpieces housed in the Louvre’s Department of Decorative Arts. Featuring 71 silhouettes and 30 accessories loaned by 45 fashion houses, the exhibition offers a one-of-a-kind journey through some of the world’s most exquisite art objects.”

The exhibition, curated by Olivier Gabet, reflects the growing trend of monographs and showcases dedicated to luxury brands and creative directors. Across 9,000 square metres in the galleries and rooms of the Decorative Arts department, the exhibition includes pieces from prestigious houses—many of them French, but also Italian, British, Dutch, American, and Japanese. Guided tours will further enrich the experience, including a thematic “Fashion Faux Pas” historical tour on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., promising a trove of entertaining anecdotes.

“This is not about scattering fashion pieces throughout the Department of Decorative Arts, but about fostering and highlighting meaningful connections,” the museum emphasised. “The [Louvre] collection has often been shaped by the generosity of figures from the fashion world, from Jacques Doucet to Madame Carven. The dialogue between art history and fashion is full of synergies—shared methods, expertise in ancient techniques, visual culture, and the subtle interplay of references, from the museum’s catalogues to fashion mood boards. This exhibition offers a fresh perspective on art objects, viewed through the lens of contemporary designers.”

This growing convergence of fashion and art resonates deeply with the luxury and creative industries. Evidence of its appeal lies in the success of the inaugural Grand Dîner du Louvre, where over 30 tables were sold, surpassing the initial fundraising goal of €1 million.

Could a second edition already be on the cards, even before the first has taken place under the Louvre’s iconic pyramid?