Victoria’s Secret brought its signature runway spectacle back to Los Angeles on 18 October 2026, combining familiar faces, live music and the return of one of its most recognisable creations, the Fantasy Bra. Held at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, the show featured established models including Adriana Lima, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid and Candice Swanepoel, alongside a new generation of runway talent.
The event was streamed globally on YouTube, continuing the brand’s effort to make its annual fashion show accessible beyond a traditional live audience. The official Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show page featured the broadcast and model announcements ahead of the event.
The Fantasy Bra Returns After Eight Years
One of the evening’s biggest talking points was the return of the Fantasy Bra, which had not appeared on the Victoria’s Secret runway since 2018. This year, Kylie Jenner made her Victoria’s Secret runway debut wearing the piece, bringing celebrity visibility to one of the brand’s most recognisable traditions.
As reported by Vogue, the bra was valued at $50 million and featured 4,410 natural diamonds surrounding a 75.54-carat radiant-cut Fancy Vivid yellow diamond. The elaborate design placed jewellery craftsmanship at the centre of a show otherwise built around lingerie, wings and theatrical runway styling.
FLJ Insider Pro is open: live fashion law jobs and internships, five career guides and two roadmaps. Early bird USD 12/month. See what's inside
The Fantasy Bra has historically been a major publicity moment for Victoria’s Secret, with previous versions worn by some of the industry’s best-known models. Its return this year connected the show to its earlier identity while giving the brand a headline-making moment for a new audience.
Familiar Angels Share the Runway With New Faces
The 2026 show brought back several models closely associated with Victoria’s Secret’s runway history. Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel appeared alongside Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Alex Consani, Ashley Graham, Anok Yai, Paloma Elsesser and Joan Smalls.
According to Harper’s Bazaar’s runway coverage, the lineup also included Elsa Hosk, who returned after an eight-year break, and Barbara Palvin, who walked again after welcoming her first child the previous month.
The casting brought together established Victoria’s Secret names and models from different backgrounds and body types. The brand has been working to reshape its public image following years of criticism over its narrow representation of beauty. The current show continues that shift, although the return of familiar Angels and the Fantasy Bra also signals that the company is retaining elements of the formula that originally made the event famous.
Music Takes a Central Role
Live performances remained an important part of the show’s format. The 2026 lineup featured Megan Thee Stallion, Tate McRae, KATSEYE and Megan Moroney, bringing together artists from different corners of contemporary pop and country music.
KATSEYE performed during the PINK segment, singing “Pinky Up” and “Animal” in a presentation that paired the group’s youthful styling with the brand’s more playful line. Harper’s Bazaar’s coverage of KATSEYE’s performance also reported the group’s announcement that member Sophia Laforteza would be returning soon from her temporary hiatus.
The musical performances helped position the event as more than a conventional lingerie presentation. For Victoria’s Secret, the combination of fashion, celebrity, and live entertainment remains a way to reach audiences who may not otherwise follow runway shows.
Solange Omon Becomes the Newest Angel
Another significant moment was the announcement of Solange Omon as Victoria’s Secret’s newest Angel. The 21-year-old model, who was born in Cameroon and had been studying and working with nonprofit youth programs in Maine, won a nationwide casting search documented in the brand’s YouTube series Angels Among Us.
As reported by People, Omon was selected from thousands of aspiring models and received an exclusive modelling contract with IMG Models. The series followed contestants through casting, training, and other stages of the selection process before the winner was revealed on the runway.
The initiative gave the brand a way to involve its audience in the lead-up to the show rather than limiting participation to the final event. It also created a storyline around the discovery of new talent, extending the fashion show into a longer digital campaign.
A Familiar Format With a New Strategy
The 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show brought back several elements that defined its earlier editions: the Angels, elaborate wings, the Fantasy Bra and a high-profile musical lineup. At the same time, the live YouTube broadcast and Angels Among Us series reflect the brand’s focus on digital audiences and participation beyond the runway.
The event demonstrates how Victoria’s Secret is balancing nostalgia with efforts to refresh its public image. Rather than abandoning its established visual identity, the brand is reintroducing familiar features while expanding the range of models and stories associated with them.
For a company whose fashion show has long been one of its most visible marketing platforms, the challenge is to make that spectacle relevant to contemporary audiences. This year’s edition offered a clear answer to what the brand is trying to achieve: preserve the recognisable elements of its runway history while giving viewers new faces, performances and reasons to tune in.
Who Gets to Be Pleased? Victoria’s Secret, Society, and the Impossible Quest for Consensus
FASHION LAW JOURNAL INSIDER
Join designers, brand founders and fashion lawyers who get the biggest brand battles, IP fights and career moves in fashion law, straight to their inbox.
