Australian Fashion Week 2026 proved once again why it remains the country’s most compelling stage for fashion in motion – a place where heritage houses and emerging voices share equal billing, ideas are just as important as aesthetics, and the conversation extends far beyond the runway.
This year’s program struck a confident balance between the iconic and the up-and-coming, placing established Australian designers alongside a new wave of creative talent redefining what contemporary style looks like. A standout moment through FDS TAFE NSW, which showcased its next wave of emerging designers as part of its long-running graduate runway, continuing its legacy of championing innovation and new Australian talent.
Sustainability also took centre stage, not as a side note but as a serious and necessary dialogue. Across a series of talks – including The Case for Circular: Fashion’s Most Important Business Conversation – industry leaders unpacked the realities of circular design, responsible production, and the evolving expectations of consumers who want style with substance.
And, of course, no Australian Fashion Week would be complete without the street style set turning the surrounding precinct into its own unofficial runway. From directional tailoring to bold experimental looks, the street style stars delivered a masterclass in personal expression, proving that the most compelling fashion moments don’t always happen on the runway — sometimes, they’re just outside it.
Carla Zampatti
Close to 1000 guests gathered along the Park Hyatt boardwalk as Carla Zampattis Reflections collection brought Day 1 of Australian Fashion Week to a close in true Sydney style. Against the glow of the Harbour and Opera House, black gowns drenched in liquid-like sequins caught the light as they moved across the water’s edge, the iconic Aussie designer’s signature blend of sharp tailoring and fluid silhouettes delivered a finale that balanced glamour with quiet authority.
Mariam Seddiq
Mariam Seddiq put the haute in hump day woth with a Wednesday evening performance at the MCA – filled her unmistakable Prada-Couture edge. Here, looks like the below paired razor-sharp silhouettes with high-shine textures and a bold, maximalist sensibility that electrified the Foundation Hall. Her Resort 27 collection leaned into statement dressing, each look designed to land on the runway with deliberate impact.
L’Idee Woman
At L’Idee, the who of the runway was almost as important as the what. Perhaps inspired by Pip Edwards’ new reign as the brand’s latest creative director, L’Idee also chose to cram its catwalk with strutting queens, with a reputation as long as their legs. These included former Victoria’s Secret Angels Taylor Hill and Shanina Shaik (below).
Nicol and Ford
In a sea of nudes, blacks and greige, Nicol and Ford put the fun back in fashion with a fabulous, feather and fringed soiree at Elizabeth Bay House
Street Style at Gary Bigeni
With a bio that celebrates, “expressive everyday gender neutral clothing (for any) size, gender, age and independence,” it’s little surpise that the Street Style outside GB show was some of the best we spotted all week
Iordanes Spyridon Gogos
Controversial? Perhaps. Iconic? Absolutely. Just like his unforgettable avant-garde creations, designer Iordanes Spyridon Gogos ensured his Australian Fashion Week moment would not be forgotten anytime soon by having a male model drag a woman along the floor onto the runway while she caressed the ground. The model then slung her over his shoulders as they posed in front of the crowd. (And that’s before we even mention the chaos of two emergency evacuations and a front row guest dressed as a BBQ sauce bottle!)
