These Trending Wedding Dresses Are About to Break the Internet

For fashion-forward brides, the wedding aisle is like a personal runway. It offers the chance to sport one of the season's top trending wedding dresses and pose for photo-ops along the way. Of course, when it comes to finding a gown that's worthy of the role, there's no better place to start your search than New York Bridal Fashion Week. The semi-annual affair takes place each April and October as designers from all around the world gather to showcase their upcoming collections. We had the chance to attend and get a sneak peek at 2026 wedding dress trends. Needless to say, we're counting down the days until you get to see these popular wedding dresses lining the racks at your local bridal salon, but until then, we hope a preview will suffice. Keep scrolling to see what bridal styles are in store for the coming season.

Top Wedding Dress Trends for 2026

From modern takes on classic bridal styles to innovative avant-garde looks, there was a bit of wedding dress inspo for everyone at New York Bridal Fashion Week this season. For 2026 brides, there is undoubtedly reason to get excited, as all of these designs will soon be available to purchase. Fortunately, you don't have to travel to the Big Apple to get the latest scoop on what's in style. As your expert source on all things bridal fashion, we're breaking down the top 10 upcoming wedding dress trends for 2026.

Top wedding dress trends for 2026: Basque Waists | Cat-Eye Necklines | Bubble Hems | Lace-Up Detailing | Detachable Corset Tops | Scarves | Drop Waists | Plissé Fabrics | Lace Toppers | Sculptural Elements

1. Basque Waists

It's not uncommon to see brands give a nod to centuries past in their designs. Sometimes, they'll even credit a bygone era as the primary source of inspiration for their collection. This season, there was no denying the Victorian era's influence on bridal fashion. Basque waistlines in particular were prevalent within many of the collections we saw. Characterized by their "V" or "U" shape that comes to a point below the natural waistline, Basque waists are beloved for their elongating effects. The style first came about in the 1800s, but today, brands like Enaura, House of Gilles and Jenny Yoo are pioneering their revival.

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Photo: Enaura

Photo: House of Gilles

Photo: Jenny Yoo

2. Cat-Eye Necklines

For years—decades even—the sweetheart neckline held reign. Then, it was the square neckline. This year's runways, however, marked the start of a new era for wedding dress necklines. Cat-eye dresses were featured in collections from both beloved brands and up-and-coming designers alike. Defined by their sharp, angular edges that point up toward the collarbone or shoulder, cat-eye necklines bring a fresh and modern feel to just about any silhouette they're paired with. For brides looking to embrace this year's wedding dress trends in a subtle way, the cat-eye styles from brands like Hera Couture, Alyssa Kristin and Pronovias come at just the right time.

Photo: Hera Couture

Photo: Alyssa Kristin

Photo: Pronovias

3. Bubble Hems

The search for nontraditional wedding dresses just got easier thanks to brands like Katherine Tash, KYHA and Ricca Sposa who showcased designs featuring bubble hemlines at New York Bridal Fashion Week this season. This current wedding dress trend caters to brides who love the volume and wow-factor that traditional ball gowns offer, but want to don a truly unique look on their wedding day. From A-line to mermaid gowns and even convertible wedding dresses, we saw bubble hems make their way onto the runway in a variety of different ways.

Photo: Katherine Tash

Photo: KYHA

Photo: Ricca Sposa Atelier

4. Lace-Up Detailing

When it comes to popular wedding dresses, lace-up corsets are certainly nothing new. In fact, many ateliers even offer brides the choice between a lace-up or zip-up back when customizing their gown. This season at New York Bridal Fashion Week, however, we saw wedding dress designers push the boundaries by incorporating lace-up details in new and innovative ways. Justin Alexander and KYHA, for instance, showcased designs that featured lace-up corsetry on the front, as opposed to the back. Jaclyn WHYTE had a gown with a deep plunging neckline that could be laced up into a bow.

Photo: Justin Alexander

Photo: Jaclyn WHYTE

Photo: KYHA

5. Detachable Corset Tops

If you've ever browsed wedding dress inspo online or tried on looks at your local bridal salon, rewearability probably wasn't top-of-mind. It's true that most brides don't end up wearing their wedding gown again after they say "I do," but thanks to this new wedding dress trend, we have reason to believe that that's about to change. Wedding gowns with detachable corset tops allow you to switch up your style between ceremony and reception. Better yet? They let you incorporate a piece of your wedding day into your everyday attire. Trust us when we say that white corset tops look just as stylish with jeans as they do with voluminous tulle skirts. Don't believe us? Check out these wedding dress ideas from WONÀ Concept, Renhue and SEPT by Sarah Seven as proof.

Photo: WONÀ Concept

Photo: House of Renhue

Photo: SEPT

6. Scarves

It's no secret that Indian wedding attire has had an impact on Western fashion. From beaded embellishments to intricate embroidery, many of the most beloved styles have proven their ability to transcend cultures. The draped scarf, also called a dupatta, is no exception. There are countless ways that wedding scarves can be worn, giving brides the opportunity to express themselves in a way that feels true to them. Recently, brides have been wearing them around their neck with fabric draped down their back as a sort of veil alternative. While we're not ready to say goodbye to traditional bridal veils just yet, we're loving how wedding dress designers like Monique Lhuillier, Mira Zwillinger and Alexandra Grecco continue to showcase creativity in the form of this wedding dress idea.

Photo: Monique Lhuillier

Photo: Mira Zwillinger

Photo: Alexandra Grecco

7. Drop Waists

The 1920's flapper, defined by her desire to flout tradition, is not unlike the modern bride. Over a century later, many designers have embraced that sentiment and are leaning into the same sense of individuality that made the Jazz Age a standout era for fashion. Drop waistlines, once considered dated, have now made their return in an effort to render themselves as classic. For the bride looking for a contemporary spin on a beloved vintage style, a drop waist wedding dress is the way to go. Luckily, there was no shortage of these popular wedding dresses on the New York Bridal Fashion Week runways thanks to designers like Ines Di Santo, Idan Cohen and Nadia Manjarrez.

Photo: Ines Di Santo

Photo: Idan Cohen

Photo: Nadia Manjarrez

8. Plissé Fabrics

So what sorts of fabrics do trendy wedding dresses feature? While there's no one answer, we certainly saw our fair share of wedding dress inspiration featuring plissé fabrics on the 2026 New York Bridal Fashion Week runways. The fabric, which is characterized by small, permanent pleats or creases throughout, instantly elevates a look through the power of texture. The up-and-coming brand, CINQ, is known for their unique use of distressed plissé fabrics. Their showstopper this season was a light blue ball gown with diamond-shaped pieces of plissé fabric used to form an argyle pattern. Brands like Meshki and Andrew Kwon opted for more classic incorporations of the fabric on the skirts of their A-line gowns.

Photo: CINQ

Photo: Meshki

Photo: Andrew Kwon

9. Lace Toppers

Reception dresses and second looks had a major moment in recent years, but what we heard from designers this season is that many brides don't want to part ways with their wedding gown right after the ceremony. Enter: Lace toppers and detachable sleeves. These elegant extras allow brides to transform their entire outfit in a matter of seconds without actually changing into another dress. For those saying "I do" in a church, temple or mosque, they're also a great way to make a strapless or sleeveless dress more modest. Some of our favorite lace wedding dress toppers this season were from Galia Lahav, Mark Ingram and Sareh Nouri.

Photo: Galia Lahav

Photo: Mark Ingram

Photo: Sareh Nouri

10. Sculptural Elements

One overarching theme this season was the idea that your wedding gown can be more than just a dress—it can also be wearable art. Brands like Maticevski, Esé Azénabor and OUMA proved that creativity knows no bounds when it comes to ideas for a wedding dress. By incorporating abstract, sculptural elements into their designs, they were able to reimagine what it means to look like a bride. The three looks below are merely a snippet of the unique wedding dress ideas we saw on the runway.

Photo: Maticevski

Photo: Esé Azénabor

Photo: OUMA

How to Take Wedding Dress Inspo From the Runway

The beauty of wedding fashion—and your wedding day in general—is that it's all about you. In other words, you get to wear whatever you want. Whether that means diving headfirst into the most maximal version of a trend or simply incorporating subtle touches of it into your bridal outfits, the key is to identify what makes you feel like the best, most confident version of yourself. Trying on wedding dresses can help you decide what trends you'd like to take from the runway to real life.

Why are 2026 wedding dresses shown in 2025?

The unveiling of 2026 collections in 2025 caters to a crucial part of the wedding planning process: the timeline. In fact, the dresses we saw at this season's NYBFW will land in salons at just the right time for 2026 brides. According to The Knot's Real Wedding Study, the ideal time to buy your wedding gown is eight to ten months prior to your event date. This will allow enough buffer time for things like production and dress alterations with plenty of time to spare. So whether you're currently wedding dress shopping or just looking for a bit of wedding dress inspiration, getting to know the looks from the runway will easily help you plan ahead for your own big day.

When will we see these wedding dress ideas in bridal stores?

As mentioned above, brands showcase their designs about a year ahead of when they're due to be sold in-store. This means that you'll be able to find all of the above trending wedding dresses online and in bridal salons by this time next year. Of course, depending on the brand, they may be available sooner. We recommend contacting your local bridal salon to ask if and when a particular style will be sold in-store.

Additional reporting by Kate Boswell.