LOS ANGELES, October 18, 2026 — The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returns to the runway at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on October 18, 2026, bringing back its signature wings, musical acts, and top-tier supermodels. For those involved in the brand, the story begins with a massive cultural turnaround after years of heavy criticism and a sudden cancellation.
The Long Road Back to the Runway
When the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debuted in 1995 at New York City’s The Plaza Hotel, it was a straightforward showcase of the brand’s lingerie offerings, according to Yahoo Entertainment. Over the next 23 years, the televised event evolved into an over-the-top production featuring top-tier models and A-list musical performances. Icons like Tyra Banks and Gisele Bündchen walked the runway, while musical acts ranged from Destiny’s Child to Taylor Swift and Rihanna. Wings were first introduced to the runway in 1998 with the debut of angel bras, quickly becoming a defining signature of the brand.
At its heart, the spectacle suffered a sharp fall from grace as public expectations shifted. The show went on hiatus in 2019 after facing mounting criticism over a lack of diversity and inclusivity, as the brand did not hire its first plus-sized model until that same year, according to Yahoo Entertainment. E! News notes that the organizer Edward Razek resigned under public pressure in 2019, leaving many to wonder if the fantasy-driven production would ever return to form.
Image Rehab and a Star-Studded Lineup
Under new leadership, the brand underwent purposeful image rehab and made a grand return with a runway show in 2024 featuring Cher, Tyla, and Lisa, alongside returning fan favorites like Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, and the Hadid sisters. For Gigi Hadid, who made her debut in 2015 at age 20, the journey required persistence. According to E! News, Gigi auditioned two or three times before securing her spot, noting that the brand represents much more than just lingerie and looking hot.
Gigi Hadid plans to walk the pink carpet for a sixth time at the 2026 show, according to E! News. She will be joined on the runway by prominent models including Alex Consani, Paloma Elsesser, and Anok Yai, according to Yahoo Entertainment. What unfolded over the past several years was a calculated effort to modernize the cast while retaining the theatrical scale that defined the brand for decades.
Musical Acts and the Return of the Fantasy Bra
The October 18, 2026 event features high-profile musical performances by Katseye, Megan Thee Stallion, Tate McRae, and Megan Moroney, according to Yahoo Entertainment. The production leans heavily into the high-energy concert format that made previous iterations appointment viewing for millions of fans worldwide. Performers from past decades included Andrea Bocelli and Taylor Swift, establishing a tradition of pairing high-end fashion with chart-topping music.
Adding to the anticipation, the handcrafted Fantasy Bra is making its return for the 2026 event in a collaboration with jeweler Jacob and Co., according to E! News. While the sparkling, multi-million-dollar bra remains a staple of the brand’s history, the model who will wear this year’s piece remains a top secret, keeping audiences guessing until the moment she steps onto the runway.
Reflections from Iconic Angels
For the supermodels who defined the brand’s history, the runway experience was about more than just the garments. Heidi Klum, who served as an Angel for 11 years, expressed a deep fondness for the role, noting on a 2024 episode of Call Her Daddy that she “loved it always” and consistently looked forward to wearing the signature big wings. Similarly, Gisele Bündchen, who debuted at age 19 in 1999, described the events as a “fun experience.” In a 2022 British Vogue video, she recalled the high-energy atmosphere, stating, “It was always like a production; there was always someone singing, there was always something happening.”
Despite the spectacle, some models navigated complex feelings regarding the show’s aesthetic requirements. In her 2018 memoir, Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life, Bündchen wrote of her time as an Angel, “Give me a tail, a cape, wings, please, anything to cover me up a little!” These reflections highlight the evolving relationship between the performers and the elaborate, fantasy-driven production that became a global cultural phenomenon.
Sources
- Gigi Hadid, Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum and More Who Dominated the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Runway
- 25 Unforgettable Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Looks From 1995 to Now
- Gigi Hadid, Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum and More Who Dominated the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Runway
Photo: Timesniper.com (CC BY 2.0)
