If you have been waiting for a reason to book a night in Minneapolis this winter, a rare run of Paris haute couture is one. Paris Couture is on view at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) from October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027, which gives you more than three months of weekends to plan around. Here is what the show is, how the dates and tickets work, and where to stay when you come.
What Is Paris Couture at Mia?
The exhibition brings more than 80 haute couture garments from the Palais Galliera, the Paris fashion museum, to Mia’s Target Galleries (2400 Third Avenue South). The pieces span the late 19th century to today, with work from houses including Dior, Balenciaga, Schiaparelli and Grès, according to Mia’s exhibition page. Mia’s press release also names Madeleine Vionnet and a look from Matthieu Blazy’s Spring 2026 couture collections. The Palais Galliera lists the Minneapolis showing on its own Paris Couture page.
This is a touring show. After Minneapolis it travels to the Saint Louis Art Museum (March 6 to June 13, 2027), so the Twin Cities window is the one that ends January 17.
Tickets and Member Days
General admission to the exhibition is $20. Mia lists free entry for Contributor Member+ (additional tickets are $16) and for youth 17 and under. Mia members at every level get free entry on five dates: Sunday, October 11; Thursday, October 29; Saturday, November 21; Thursday, December 17, 2026; and Friday, January 1, 2027. Mia’s page does not say whether timed entry is required, so check the exhibition page before you go.
Evenings and Special Dates Worth Building a Trip Around
Mia has scheduled programs around the show through the winter. Dates below come from Mia’s exhibition page, and each program has its own details there:
- Mia After Dark evenings in October, November, December and January, with food, wine and spirits experiences
- Thursday, November 5, 5–8 p.m.: panel discussion and mixer, “Paris in Style”
- Thursday, November 12, 6–9 p.m.: Vision and Voice Young Adult Night, with free access to the exhibition
- Thursday, November 19, 6:30–7:30 p.m.: a guest talk on Karl Lagerfeld
- Thursdays, December 3, 10 and 17, 5–9 p.m.: Mafic Ocean x Meet at Mia
A Thursday evening program is an easy way to make the visit a night out rather than an errand. You can see the galleries, have dinner in the city, and be back in a quiet room without a late drive home.
Where to Stay for Paris Couture
300 Clifton is a historic bed and breakfast in Loring Park, built as the Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion and listed on the National Register. It is a Georgian house with English gardens, individual guest rooms such as the Crystal Mansion Room and the Georgian Room, and a four-season garden hot tub that is at its best on a cold January night. If a day among Dior and Balenciaga puts you in the mood for something a little theatrical, a mansion is a fitting place to end it.
Mia sits a short ride from Loring Park. Use Metro Transit’s trip planner for your route and timing rather than trusting a rough guess.
Direct bookings at 300 Clifton also come with a $20 Pillsbury Club dining voucher and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher; see the vouchers page for the current terms. If you want to pair the museum with another stop, our Minneapolis museums guide lists more, and our earlier guide to staying near Mia covers the museum’s free collection. Planning the same trip over Thanksgiving? See Thanksgiving weekend in Minneapolis.
Plan Your Dates
Member free days and the Thursday programs will likely draw bigger crowds, so if you want a calmer visit, consider a weekday that is not on Mia’s list. Whatever you choose, the exhibition ends January 17, and the Minneapolis run ends there. Ready to book? Check availability at 300 Clifton and pick the night that suits your Mia date.
Keep reading: Where Should You Stay for the Minneapolis Christkindl Market, Nov. 20–Dec. 20, 2026?