The Most Notable Runway Moments From Australian Fashion Week 2026 So Far

fashion in full swing

By Victoria Lewis | 15th May 2026

After months of anxious anticipation for the AFC Australian Fashion Week this year, what it would look like in its new Sydney CBD home, and what the future of fashion in Australia has in store, the moment has finally arrived, and it’s come in powerful stride.

It’s been a week where, amongst the weather, mid-show fire alarms, and photobombing beach-goers, Australian fashion has emerged victorious. A new Sydney CBD venue brought the drama, the street-style was more subdued, and the runway looks took our breath away – Australian Fashion Week 2026 has truly shown us that local talent is in fine form.

Here are all the best runway moments from Australian Fashion Week 2026.

DAY 1

MATICEVSKI

Marking his return to the AFW runway a decade after his last show, Toni Maticevski marked the occasion with a collection. The look possessed elements of both softness and strength, grounded by texture play and a largely monochromatic palette. Sculptural silhouettes that represented armour were juxtaposed with sensuous fabrics tailored to the female form; this statement-making collection from MATICEVSKI was a true celebration of art and craftsmanship.

Imagery: Lucas Dawson

Carla Zampatti

Bringing the weather for the second year running, Carla Zampatti opened AFW overlooking Sydney Harbour with their collection Reflections, a sophisticated pondering of the past, present, and future. Opened by international supermodel Shanina Shaik, feathered forms and relaxed suiting met draped silk and intricate beading. And when the rain poured mid-show, it didn’t detract from the moment but illuminated the designs with a touch of magic.

Beare Park

5 years after her AFW debut, Beare Park returned to where it all began within the Sydney Opera House, with a collection marked by languid drapery, elongated forms and refined tailoring. The collection was a confident expression of Co-Founder and Creative Director Gabriella Pereira’s design vision, inspired fittingly by ‘In This Heart’ by Sinéad O’Connor. Alongside the collection, guests were also treated to an appearance from Pereira’s little one – a touching reflection of the deep emotional connection she has to her work.

Commas

In true Australian fashion, Commas took to the beach for the AFW runway. The collection was comprised of quintessential Australian silhouettes – relaxed polos, board shorts, bikinis worn as tops – the kind of perfectly mismatched looks that not even a stray beachgoer could distract from.

Image: @emilysudlow

Image: @cantycreative

DAY 2

Bianca Spender

Set against a stark industrial backdrop, Bianca Spender offered a fashion-forward rebellion with her Resort ‘27 collection. Equal parts ethereal and edgy, croc-textured leather and sheer iridescent fabrics draped the body, while leather gloves and exaggerated leather clutches added an extra layer of interest. Refined to a seasonal palette of burgundy, chocolate, and pastel blue, Bianca Spender showcased what she does best – elegance and edge in their most sophisticated form.

Courtney Zheng

In her first solo collection, name-to-watch Courtney Zheng offered a collection grounded in community and subculture, where distressed textures, unexpected corsetry, and sartorial elements combined in both a grungy and feminine exploration of fashion as emotional expression and solidarity.

The Frontier: On the Threshold

Showcasing some of the most talented new-age design visionaries, The Frontier was once again one of the highlights of the week. Across the six capsule collections from Haluminous by Hannah Teresa, Ouse by Samantha Diorio, Paris Jade Burrows, Madre Natura by Jackie Galleghan, Rose Guiffre and Suzaan Stander, there was one common theme – a quiet undercurrent of rebellion, and boy are we here for it.

Haluminous by Hannah Teresa

Rose Guiffre

Paris Jade Burrows

Hansen & Gretel

In an ode to coastal cool, Hansen & Gretel staged a show inspired by the weightless feeling of the ocean. The results were breezy looks full of movement, shaped by fluid silks, shell details, and sandy-coloured crochet contrasted against cargo shorts, chunky sunglasses, and platform sandals. If mermaids wore clothes, it would be this collection.

Alix Higgins

In one of AFW26’s most playful collections, Alix Higgins showed up and showed out with a Resort ‘27 collection where Y2K nostalgia and grunge met face to face. With graphic prints, childlike motifs, and big barefoot energy, Higgins played with romanticism and whimsy in a truly exciting display of new-age fashion, accented by chic wearable tech items, of course.

DAY 3

Aje

Showing their Resort ‘27 collection, Siren, Aje brought us movement and sensuality in its most feminine form. With a slightly different feel to their usual aesthetic, we saw hotpants with sheer blouses, bolo ties with a western edge, and striking monochromatic leather ensembles amongst their signature sculptural numbers.

Esse

Following an appearance in last year’s ‘The Frontier’ showcase, ESSE presented a standalone collection of purposeful dressing at its most refined. A rich autumnal palette set the scene for glorious texture play between fringe, leather, and lace, creating silhouettes that felt sophisticated yet fun.

Nagnata

Byron-based athleisure brand Nagnata brought some unexpected attitude to its ‘FUTURE = FIBRE’ collection. Alongside their signature sustainable athletic wear, we saw double denim, unique layering, and movement that explored the connection between the planet, the body, and the self.

Mariam Seddiq

Exploring strength and sensuality through texture and silhouette, Mariam Seddiq’s collection featured looks that felt bold yet refined, balancing sharp tailoring with exaggerated, sculptural forms. While each model’s luminous skin and sculpted hair elevated the looks to another realm, oversized eyewear and metallic accents brought an edge that felt distinctly current.

DAY 4

L’IDÉE

Ending day four backed by a star-studded lineup of supermodels, L’IDEE’s made its marked return to the AFW runway with a collection from new creative director Pip Edwards, which was a striking example of what glamour looks like for the modern woman. With none other than Taylor Hill opening the show in iridescent pleats, the collection featured L’IDEE’s signature pleating alongside sculptural silhouettes and sequins.