The Australian Fashion Council has unveiled the first wave of designers set to show at Australian Fashion Week in 2026.
Taking place from May 11–15 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and across Sydney, the schedule will feature a mix of established names and emerging talent, following what organisers described as a highly competitive selection process.
This year marks the first time the AFC has had a full year to plan the event, after taking it on in late 2024 following the exit of IMG, with only months to plan the 2025 version.
Among the designers confirmed for runway shows and presentations this year are Aje, Alix Higgins, Bianca Spender, Carla Zampatti, Christian Kimber, Commas, Common Hours, Courtney Zheng, Farage, Gary Bigeni, Hansen & Gretel, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, L’idée, Mariam Seddiq, Nagnata, Ngali, Nicol & Ford and Toni Maticevski, with more names still to be announced.
Emerging designers will again be spotlighted through the New Gen program, presented by DHL, with Alberta Bucciarelli, ‘EDITION’ Alice Van Meurs x Sarrita King, Gloria Chol and KingKing Creative confirmed.
A new group runway, ‘The Frontier’, will showcase a cohort of cult and next-generation creatives, including Haluminous, Madre Natura, Ouse, Paris Jade Burrows and Suzaan Stander, supported by Create NSW.
The 2026 program will also include two dedicated First Nations runway shows, featuring designers Buluuy Mirrii and van Ermel Scherer.
AFC executive chair Marianne Perkovic said the depth of submissions this year reflects the strength of the local design pipeline, with the final lineup balancing heritage brands and emerging voices shaping the future of Australian fashion.
“This year, we saw an extraordinary level of interest from designers, reflecting the strength and momentum of Australian fashion,” Perkovic said. “The selection process was highly competitive, and I would like to acknowledge Kellie Hush, AFW fashion director, and the selection panel for the rigour and care they brought to shaping this program.
“We thank them for delivering a compelling and considered schedule — one that showcases both the depth of established talent and the next generation of designers driving the industry forward.”
The event will again be backed by returning presenting partner Shark Beauty, as AFW continues to position itself as a key commercial platform for Australian designers on the global stage.
The public will also be included in the week, with AFW hosting a dedicated line-up of ticketed events. Curated group showcases will feature see-now-buy-now collections from contemporary Australian brands. Tickets will be available soon via the Australian Fashion Week website.
Hush said buyer interest is surging for the 2026 event, including big ones from the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia, alongside buyers from Europe and the United States.
"I have been inundated with buyers this year," Hush said. "It's been incoming. And I know that from my colleagues who are travelling globally, and have been in Paris, Milan, New York and London. People want to come to Australia. "
Hush added that Fashion Week is a cultural force, showcasing the creativity and global ambition of Australian designers. “This year marks a sharper, more dynamic evolution of the event, where culture, creativity and commerce converge to position Australian fashion firmly in the global spotlight,” she said.
Alongside runway shows, AFW 2026 will also include a series of talks, workshops and activations. Program details will go live soon via the Australian Fashion Week website.
Meanwhile, Esse Studios and the Fashion Design School's 'FDS: The Innovators' showcase will also feature during the week.
SharkNinja (Shark Beauty) managing director for ANZ, Aby Shukla, said the company is proud to return as the presenting partner this year. “At Shark Beauty, innovation and self-expression are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re excited to champion local talent that shares this vision, bringing fashion and individuality to life on the runway,” Shukla said.
AFW is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said the NSW Government is backing Sydney as the nation’s fashion capital.
“It’s particularly exciting that the program for Fashion Week 2026 will unfold against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour at its new home in the MCA, providing the perfect canvas for Australia’s best designers to showcase their work to the world,” Kamper said.
“Not only does Fashion Week provide our designers with an invaluable gateway to new markets, but it also underscores the important role of the retail sector to the NSW visitor economy, positioning Sydney as a global destination for high-end fashion retail on top of everything else we do so spectacularly in this city and this state.”
In addition to the already mentioned sponsors, AFW is also backed by Afterpay, the City of Sydney, St Ali and Nivea.