Brisbane Fashion Festival Returns For 2026: Here’s What To Expect
fashion in focus
By Kiri Johnston | 11th March 2026Brisbane Fashion Festival is back for 2026, with Spring/Summer collections, next-generation designers, and established Queensland labels returning to the centre of the city.
Now in its 21st year, the Festival remains focused on what it does best: connecting designers directly with the people who will wear their work, and giving local design the visibility it deserves.
What is Brisbane Fashion Festival?
Brisbane Fashion Festival is Queensland’s largest annual fashion event, staged in the heart of Brisbane and built with the consumer front of mind.
Collections are presented as they arrive in stores, meaning what walks the runway can be purchased almost immediately. That direct link between designer and audience gives the week its relevance and keeps it closely aligned with how people actually shop.
Now more than two decades in, the event is clear in its focus. It understands its audience, its climate and the way Queenslanders dress. Resortwear, spring tailoring, and warm-weather layering feel grounded here, considered for this city rather than borrowed from elsewhere. The focus remains firmly on the collections.
Where is Brisbane Fashion Festival held?
The main runway shows return to a custom-built marquee at King George Square, transforming Brisbane’s civic centre into the city’s fashion focal point for the week.
The program will begin with a Resort runway staged along the New Farm Riverwalk, a setting that feels inherently aligned with Queensland’s pace and climate.
From there, the core schedule unfolds:
W Brisbane Show: marking the official start of the marquee runway series, bringing together established Australian designers and leading retail names.
Next Gen Group Show: consistently one of the most compelling evenings on the calendar, spotlighting emerging designers at pivotal stages in their careers.
Designer Group Show: closing the runway program with established Queensland labels presenting their full Spring/Summer collections.
Each show will again be live-streamed, extending the audience beyond the physical front row and giving participating designers continued visibility.
Beyond the runway
The Festival extends beyond the marquee, unfolding across the wider city through curated events and dining collaborations.
The FashionBites initiative partners with select CBD restaurants and bars within walking distance of King George Square, making the runway part of a broader evening in Brisbane.
Community partnerships remain embedded in the program, including alignment with The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust and the return of Dress To Express, an initiative supporting survivors of domestic violence and advocating for autonomy and identity.
Additional satellite events, from salon-style presentations to fashion conversations and curated lunches, are expected to unfold in the lead-up to the Festival.
Stay tuned
Brisbane Fashion Festival 2026 runs from 23–28 August in Brisbane, with tickets expected to go on sale from 30 May 2026.
