Australian Fashion Week 2026 will run from May 11 to 15 at a new harbourside venue, with the Australian Fashion Council announcing the official designer lineup.
Australian Fashion Week, in its second iteration under the Australian Fashion Council (AFC), features the return of celebrated designer Toni Maticevski after a decade-long absence and a move to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. The lineup balances the commercial power of legacy brands with the creative energy of emerging talent, a strategy designed to amplify the global reach of local design. More than 200 designers applied to present, reflecting a competitive creative landscape.
What We Know So Far
- Australian Fashion Week (AFW) 2026 will take place from May 11 to 15 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) in Sydney, moving from its previous home of 13 years, Carriageworks, according to The Guardian.
- The official designer lineup includes the return of Melbourne designer Toni Maticevski to the AFW schedule after a 10-year absence.
- The New Gen showcase for emerging designers is confirmed to return, featuring Alberta Bucciarelli, Edition Alice Van Meurs x Sarrita King, Gloria Chol, and KingKing Creative.
- Established brands presenting collections include Aje, Bianca Spender, Carla Zampatti, Hansen & Gretel, Mariam Seddiq, and Nagnata.
- Shark Beauty will return as the presenting partner for the 2026 event, as confirmed by a statement on us.fashionnetwork.com.
- First Nations design will be highlighted through two dedicated shows by Indigenous designers Buluuy Mirrii and van Ermel Scherer.
Australian Fashion Week 2026: Full Designer Lineup Revealed
The Australian Fashion Council's schedule, a mix of industry pillars and ascendant names, aims to present a dynamic week of presentations. Legacy houses Carla Zampatti and Aje, known for their significant commercial footprint and established design codes, will anchor the schedule. They are joined by mainstays Bianca Spender, Gary Bigeni, and Hansen & Gretel, whose continued presence provides a crucial through-line of Australian design history and market strength, speaking to both the heritage and future of the nation's style identity.
This foundation of established talent creates a powerful platform for the next wave of designers who are redefining the local aesthetic. The inclusion of names like Alix Higgins, Courtney Zheng, and the avant-garde Iordanes Spyridon Gogos points to a curatorial focus on innovation and conceptual design. These designers represent a more experimental edge of the industry, challenging conventions with their unique perspectives on materiality and silhouette. Similarly, brands like ESSE, Ngali, and Nicol & Ford, while newer, have already carved out distinct identities and will be closely watched by buyers and editors. The schedule also makes space for brands like COMMAS, Christian Kimber, and Nagnata, which expertly blend lifestyle appeal with a high-fashion sensibility, reflecting a key strength of the Australian market.
After more than a decade at the industrial Carriageworks space, AFW relocates to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, a prominent cultural institution on Sydney's harbour front. This shift aligns the commercial enterprise of fashion week with the broader creative arts. The new venue offers a quintessentially Sydney backdrop, reinforcing the city's role as a global fashion capital and supporting the AFC's ambition to frame the event as a premier cultural and commercial affair.
Key Designers to Watch at Australian Fashion Week
Among the many notable names on the schedule, the return of Toni Maticevski is arguably the most anticipated event. After a ten-year hiatus from Australian Fashion Week, the Melbourne-based designer’s homecoming is a significant coup for the AFC. Maticevski is renowned for his masterful drapery, sculptural forms, and a design sensibility that blurs the line between fashion and art. His presence lends a gravitas and international credibility to the week, and his show is expected to be a highlight for its technical brilliance and artistic vision. Speaking to The Guardian, Maticevski noted his inspiration for returning, saying of a previous event, "It was so innovative and exciting in terms of design and concepts, and I thought, ‘you know what, that’s the kind of industry that I want to be a part of.’"
The New Gen showcase spotlights emerging talent, featuring Alberta Bucciarelli, Gloria Chol, KingKing Creative, and a collaboration between Edition Alice Van Meurs and Sarrita King. This platform provides invaluable exposure to a national and international audience, vital for launching the careers of new designers. According to a report from Style Magazines, the next-generation runways will be expanded into three separate shows, offering a more extensive look at the industry's rising stars.
The schedule continues its commitment to showcasing First Nations talent with two dedicated runway shows for Indigenous designers Buluuy Mirrii and van Ermel Scherer, providing a prominent platform for their work. This focus ensures the rich storytelling and unique design perspectives of First Nations creators are central to the narrative of contemporary Australian fashion, celebrating the world's oldest living cultures as a vital and modern force in design.
What Happens Next
With the initial lineup now public, the industry awaits the full schedule release and the official opening of Australian Fashion Week on May 11. The event represents the culmination of months of preparation by designers and the AFC, which aims to build on the success of its inaugural year directing the event. The high volume of applications, reportedly over 200 according to Elle Australia, underscores the intense demand for a place on the official schedule and signals the robust health of Australia's design sector.
AFW Fashion Director Kellie Hush has emphasized the event's dual role as a cultural and commercial platform. "Australian Fashion Week is a cultural force, showcasing the creativity and global ambition of our designers," Hush stated. "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." This focus on tangible business outcomes, connecting designers with domestic and international buyers, remains a core objective.
As the week approaches, anticipation will build around key presentations and the trends that will emerge from the collections. The blend of established names, returning icons, and new voices promises a compelling and multifaceted view of Australian fashion today. The industry will be watching to see how the new venue, expanded emerging designer showcases, and the powerful creative roster converge to define the next chapter for style in the region.
