By Cedie Lazaro
The wings have been packed, the runway is set, and fashion’s most talked-about spectacle is officially moving to the West Coast. Victoria’s Secret has confirmed that its highly anticipated 2026 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will take place in Los Angeles, California this fall.
The announcement, which marks the brand’s first return to L.A. in nearly two decades, signals a massive structural shift. By swapping its traditional New York backdrop for Hollywood’s backyard, the lingerie giant is looking to blend nostalgic bombshell glamour with a heavily engineered, modern multimedia broadcast.
Gigi Hadid Leads the Flight Back to L.A.
Supermodel royalty Gigi Hadid officially kicked off the countdown to the 2026 show. In a sun-drenched teaser video posted to the official Victoria’s Secret Facebook Page, Hadid leaned out of a car window to deliver the ultimate invitation to fans: “Get in, Angels. We’re going to L.A.!”.
Hadid is the first heavy-hitting “Angel” locked in for the 2026 roster, marking her fifth appearance on the infamous catwalk. While the rest of the veteran lineup remains tightly under wraps, industry insiders are already predicting the return of recent runway favorites like Bella Hadid, Paloma Elsesser, and Jasmine Tookes.
“Angels Among Us”: The Public Search for Fresh Faces
What makes the 2026 iteration completely unique from the mid-2000s era is the brand’s democratization of the catwalk. Earlier this year, Victoria’s Secret partnered with IMG Models to launch the “Angels Among Us” casting initiative.
Bypassing traditional, strict agency rosters, the brand held open public casting calls across Miami, Texas, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The grassroots search aims to find fresh talent from all walks of life, and the entire high-stakes audition process is currently being filmed for an upcoming behind-the-scenes documentary series.
Balancing 2000s Glamour with Modern Inclusivity
The upcoming West Coast show arrives as part of a multi-year effort to fully rehabilitate the brand’s public image. After canceling the original iteration of the show due to plummeting ratings and valid criticisms over a lack of diversity, the company has spent the last few years reinventing what an “Angel” stands for.
Recent runways successfully introduced a broader spectrum of femininity, featuring plus-size icons, trans women like Alex Consani, and even professional athletes like the WNBA’s Angel Reese. The challenge for the Los Angeles production will be keeping that hard-earned progressive momentum alive while delivering the theatrical pop concert energy, massive 50-pound wings, and unapologetic glitz that millions of viewers still crave.
How and When to Watch
While Victoria’s Secret has not yet dropped the exact calendar date or the final musical lineup, historically the runway event broadcasts in mid-October.
Fans looking to watch the spectacle live can expect global digital availability. Following the massive success of their recent live broadcasts, the 2025 presentation was streamed directly to millions of viewers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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