Burberry Spring/Summer 2026 Unveiled at Kensington Palace Gardens

By Ethan Hall

The S/S26 Burberry show opened in Kensington Palace Gardens in a muddy tent that tried to replicate the set of a festival. Music stars like Elton John, Skepta, Central Cee and Raye (among many other British celebrities) attended the show to set the scene for Daniel Lee’s appreciation of the convergence of music, fashion, and the visual culture they have produced together.

The collection was filled with variations of the trench coats, which did not feel like anything else other than ramming down the reminder that Burberry’s staple is trenches. Lee has previously consistently chased reworks of the Burberry staple trench and his pursuit for a viral fashion moment for the trenches does not stop at S/S26. Unfortunately, the love still lies in the nostalgia of vintage Burberry trenches found across Brick Lane and his prayers for a reawakened love of a contemporary take on the trench have not been answered. The jackets that came down the runway came in garishly clashing checked and block colorways that were reminiscent of the vibrant colors found in flashing lights and food truck signs at festivals. 

Burberry S/S26 Looks 1, 13 (Images courtesy of Burberry)

Minidresses were the most prominent theme of the womenswear in the collection. There were knitted sheer minidresses with embroidered embellishments that seemed to be pulled out of a 60s Woodstock revival. More hippie-esque inspiration seems to influence the fringed leather jackets and flowery, pagan-inspired imagery printed on tops and jackets. 

Burberry S/S26 Looks 15, 32, 49 (Images courtesy of Burberry)

Lee created some more interesting characters using rock’n’roll motifs using low waisted trousers and cropped jackets, which felt like a vague attempt to appeal to the growing Hedi Slimane style crowd but kept to the theme. The tailoring was immaculate and clean cut as per Lee’s reputation. The colors complimented each other nicely and the silhouettes were pleasantly appealing.

Burberry S/S26 Looks 20, 33, 57 (Images courtesy of Burberry)

Lee’s homage to this culture was a mish mash of 60s hippie and rock’n’roll motifs juxtaposed with Burberry’s solemn style. “Burberry should appeal to everyone, from the street to the Royal Family,” is what Burberry claimed last season, however for a quintessentially British brand I cannot see the correlation between the British music and fashion identity and this collection.