Giorgio Armani Designs The Costumes For The 2026 Vienna Opera Ball

Giorgio Armani designs the costumes for the dancers of the Wiener Staatsballett performing at the opening ceremony of the 68th Vienna Opera Ball, the prestigious annual event taking place in the Austrian capital on 12 February at the Wiener Staatsoper. The project – one of the last the designer worked on – highlights the brand’s dialogue with the world of performing arts and its closeness to international cultural excellence.

Highlight of the evening, the opening ballet will feature a performance by the Wiener Staatsballett, whose Artistic Director, as of this year, is Alessandra Ferri. Widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in classical dance, Ferri also currently serves as Director of the Ballet Academy of the Wiener Staatsoper.

Sixteen pairs of dancers will inaugurate the evening wearing bespoke Giorgio Armani creations: long tulle gowns with soft, flared lines for the ballerinas, and fluid jumpsuits for the male dancers.

The costumes interpret the Armani aesthetic with lightness and elegance. Deconstructed silhouettes gently enhance movement, while gold sequin and crystal embroidery across the entire surface creates refined, evocative reflections. 

Renowned as one of the most prestigious social and cultural events in the world, the Vienna Opera Ball welcomes more than one hundred debutante couples and thousands of guests to the opera house each year. It is also followed by millions of viewers watching on television and streaming platforms at home. The evening opens with the official arrival of the authorities, continues with artistic performances and culminates with the legendary command “Alles Walzer!”, marking the beginning of the dancing.