The 2026 iteration of Australian Fashion Week is moving its central hub to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Circular Quay.
The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) confirmed the news alongside its strategic partner, Destination NSW.
Fashion Week will run from May 11 to 15 as a city-wide platform anchored at the MCA and supported by satellite activations across Sydney. This follows over a decade of being held at Carriageworks in Eveleigh.
The MCA will host a purpose-built runway and presentation environment, industry talks and cultural programming, media and buyer facilities, and curated brand activations.
AFC executive chair Marianne Perkovic said the move signals a defining evolution for Australian Fashion Week.
“ The MCA provides an iconic Sydney backdrop that reflects the creativity, cultural relevance and global outlook of our designers, while enabling a more open, connected and internationally compelling format,” Perkovic said.
“AFW 2026 is designed not just as a runway schedule, but as a national industry platform and a cultural moment for the city.”
MCA director Suzanne Cotter added that contemporary art and fashion go hand-in-hand.
“There is a long history of artists and designers working together to create memorable works of fashion and art,” Cotter said. “The MCA’s iconic location and spaces, along with its collection dedicated to the work of living Australian artists, make it a perfect canvas for designers to show their collections for Australian Fashion Week.”
AFW 2026 will feature runway shows from established, emerging, and First Nations designers, alongside a dedicated graduate runway that spotlights the next generation of Australian design talent. Beyond the runways, AFC will host designer talks, experiences and other special events.
According to AFC, Fashion Week provides critical commercial opportunities to drive business growth for designers and brands and offers an invaluable platform for designers to showcase their collections to leading international media and buyers.
Building on the 2025 event, which marked the return of AFW under new management, the 2026 event will be delivered under the AFC’s dedicated subsidiary, AFC Fashion Events (AFC FE).
AFW is overseen by an executive board comprising the executive chair to AFC and AFC FE, Marianne Perkovic; RMIT University associate deputy vice chancellor and professor Robyn Healy; Carla Zampatti CEO, Alex Schuman; Christian Kimber co-founder, Renuka Kimber, David Jones’ executive GM of womenswear, footwear and accessories, Bridget Veals; and Aje co-founder and co-CEO Adrian Norris.
In addition to the Board, the AFC is pleased to confirm the return of Kellie Hush as ‘Fashion Director’ for AFW, overseeing designer and industry relations.
AFW is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
“As the nation’s fashion capital, this is exactly the kind of bold, iconic experience we want to see in Sydney – there is no better example of our city’s unique combination of natural wonder and cultural vibrancy than Fashion Week on the harbour, at one of our most recognisable cultural institutions,” the minister for jobs and tourism, Steve Kamper said. “The NSW Government is proud to partner with the Australian Fashion Council to deliver Australian Fashion Week 2026 at the MCA and across the city, showcasing Sydney as a world-leading destination for fashion, creativity and cultural experiences.”
In addition to Destination NSW, AFW is also sponsored by Create NSW, City of Sydney, Afterpay, Canon, DHL, eBay, Hisense, Nivea and 7Bravo.