A year of Fashion, Heritage and Community

The Folk and Costume Museum 2026 — A Year of Fashion, Heritage and Community

Set within the picturesque cobbled courtyard at Saumarez Park, the National Trust of Guernsey’s Folk and Costume Museum looks ahead to an engaging and varied 2026 season. With new exhibitions, returning favourites in their final year, vibrant community events and an active gallery programme, the Museum continues to offer a rich exploration of Guernsey life through clothing, craft, art and social history.

The major new exhibition for 2026 is Inside Out, a fascinating exploration of what lies beneath historic dress. Rather than presenting garments simply as finished fashion, this exhibition reveals their hidden construction — linings, boning, bustle ties, hand stitching and ingenious tailoring techniques that shaped both silhouette and posture. By literally turning selected pieces inside out, visitors gain a rare appreciation of the technical expertise of past seamstresses and dressmakers, while also understanding clothing as a reflection of social expectation, craftsmanship and identity.

Visitors also have a final opportunity to enjoy the vibrant Sue Coyle 1970s costume exhibition on the first-floor gallery. Drawn from Sue’s remarkable personal collection, carefully preserved over decades, the display captures the spirit of a transformative decade in fashion. Flowing maxi dresses, bold prints, high-street classics and more glamorous statement pieces illustrate how fashion in the 1970s became increasingly expressive, individual and accessible. Its last year makes 2026 the perfect moment to revisit — or discover for the first time — this colourful chapter of recent social history.

Beyond these headline exhibitions, the Museum’s permanent displays continue to tell the broader story of Guernsey people over the past two centuries. Traditional trades, domestic interiors, transport, textiles and changing leisure pursuits are interpreted through accessible, carefully researched displays. 

A lively addition to the spring calendar is the Artisan Courtyard Market on 12 April, when the picturesque courtyard will host local makers, craftspeople and food producers. The market promises a relaxed community atmosphere and an opportunity to support local creativity while enjoying the Museum setting in a slightly different way — blending heritage, craft and contemporary island life.

Art lovers will also find plenty to enjoy through Art at The Park, the Museum’s popular gallery programme. Throughout 2026, the gallery will continue showcasing local artists and creative groups, offering a changing programme of exhibitions that complement the Museum’s heritage focus while celebrating contemporary artistic talent. These exhibitions help ensure the Museum remains not only a place of preservation, but also a living cultural hub supporting Guernsey’s creative community.

Education and engagement remain central to the Museum’s work. Talks, school visits, textile demonstrations and themed events throughout the year will continue to connect generations with traditional skills, conservation knowledge and local history.

Ultimately, what the Folk and Costume Museum offers in 2026 is more than exhibitions alone. It is a welcoming cultural space where fashion, heritage, art and community meet — an evolving reflection of Guernsey’s past, present and continuing creative life.

Open: 31 March – 01 November 2026 | Seven days a week 10am to 5pm | Free entry | Access friendly