Australian Fashion Week Steps Onto a New Stage for 2026
A new stage
By Kiri Johnston | 20th February 2026Australian fashion is shifting its footing this year, and it’s doing so in very good company.
For 2026, the country’s most influential fashion event is changing where it plants itself, opting for a setting that says more with less. A smarter, sharper backdrop that brings the focus back to what actually matters: the clothes, the ideas and the designers behind them, in a way that feels distinctly Australian.
The move
That shift comes via the Australian Fashion Council, in partnership with Destination NSW, with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia confirmed as the new central hub for Australian Fashion Week 2026.
This time around, the focus is on clarity and context. Purpose-built runway spaces. Room for conversation. Space for media, buyers and brands to connect without the noise. Satellite moments across Sydney will extend Fashion Week beyond a single site, shaping it as a genuinely city-wide platform without losing its centre.
AFC Executive Chair Marianne Perkovic says the move reflects a considered evolution in how Australian Fashion Week is positioned.
“Bringing Australian Fashion Week to the Museum of Contemporary Art marks an exciting new chapter for the event and for Australian fashion more broadly,” she said. “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.”
She adds that AFW 2026 is designed “not just as a runway schedule, but as a national industry platform and a cultural moment for the city.”
The setting
There are few places in Sydney where fashion and culture intersect as naturally as the MCA.
Set on the harbour and dedicated to the work of living Australian artists, the museum places fashion in direct conversation with contemporary art, ideas and creative expression. It’s clean, current and loaded with meaning — a fitting stage for designers whose work increasingly sits at the intersection of fashion, art and contemporary culture.
MCA Director Suzanne Cotter points to the long-standing relationship between art and fashion as a natural fit.
“Contemporary art and fashion go hand in hand,” she said. “There is a long history of artists and designers working together to create memorable works of fashion and art. 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.”
MCA Chair Lorraine Tarabay echoed the sentiment, saying the museum was delighted to partner with AFW to showcase Australian talent against the backdrop of contemporary art and the city itself.
What’s on
The AFW 2026 program will feature runway shows from established, emerging and First Nations designers, alongside a dedicated graduate runway spotlighting the next generation of Australian fashion talent.
Beyond the catwalk, the week will include designer talks, experiences and industry events designed to connect designers with media, buyers and each other, the part of Fashion Week that continues to shape careers long after the final show wraps.
Behind the shift
At its core, Australian Fashion Week remains as much a business platform as a cultural one. It plays a critical role in driving visibility, export opportunities and long-term growth for Australian designers, both locally and internationally, while positioning Australian fashion on a global stage.
First established in 1996, AFW has long been a gateway for Australian designers to connect with domestic and international buyers and media. Since 2025, the event has been delivered under AFC Fashion Events, a subsidiary of the Australian Fashion Council created to strengthen governance, leadership and delivery at a national level.
The event is supported by an experienced executive board spanning fashion, retail, education and industry leadership, with Kellie Hush returning as Fashion Director, overseeing designer and industry relations.
Backed by the NSW Government through Destination NSW, Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper described the partnership as a natural fit for Sydney, noting the MCA’s position as one of the city’s most recognisable cultural institutions. Supported by partners including Create NSW, City of Sydney, Afterpay, Canon, DHL, eBay, Hisense, Nivea and 7Bravo.
From 11–15 May 2026, Australian Fashion Week will be based at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, with the MCA becoming the central hub for the week’s runways, presentations and industry programming.
Australian fashion hasn’t changed what it is. It’s simply stepped onto a stage that better reflects where it’s headed.
