Autumn/Winter Fashion Month 2026: A Comprehensive Guide to the Global Fashion Circuit
Twice annually, the global fashion industry converges on four iconic cities – New York, London, Milan, and Paris – to unveil the collections that will define the upcoming season's style landscape. This autumn/winter Fashion Month, commencing in February 2026, represents a pivotal moment where established luxury houses, emerging designers, and cultural tastemakers intersect to set the sartorial agenda. The women's ready-to-wear circuit, known as the Big Four, promises an exhilarating mix of highly anticipated debuts, symbolic returns, and creative reinventions that will captivate the fashion world.
New York Fashion Week: February 11-16, 2026
New York Fashion Week (NYFW) inaugurates the seasonal spectacle from February 11 to 16, 2026, with adjusted dates to better synchronise with the international fashion calendar. Joseph Maglieri, director of fashion week at the Council of Fashion Designer of America (CFDA), explained the scheduling shift, noting that maintaining traditional early February dates would have created logistical challenges for brands and widened the gap between New York and subsequent European shows.
The week opens with a significant debut: Rachel Scott's inaugural collection for Proenza Schouler, following her mid-season appointment last year. While the closing show remains unconfirmed, legacy American brands including Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren will set the early tone with off-calendar presentations on February 9 and 10. Notable newcomers include denim label 7 for All Mankind under new creative director Nicola Brognano, alongside returns from Carolina Herrera, Public School, and Derek Lam now led by Robert Rodriguez.
London Fashion Week: February 19-23, 2026
London Fashion Week (LFW) celebrates a resurgence of both creative energy and commercial clout from February 19 to 23. The schedule features several symbolic returns, most notably Temperley London marking its 25th anniversary on the official runway after years away. Julien MacDonald makes his comeback after an absence since early 2023, while heritage label Joseph returns after nearly a decade under new creative director Mario Arena, who emphasised that runway presentations are essential to the house's identity.
Established British designers including Burberry, Simone Rocha, Erdem, and Emilia Wickstead anchor the schedule, while emerging talents like Chet Lo, John Richmond, Masha Popova, and Phoebe English maintain London's reputation for eclectic innovation. The British Fashion Council continues to support the industry by waiving show fees and expanding its International Guest Programme to attract global press and buyers. Exciting debuts from new entrants including Agro Studio, Clara Chu, Ewenki, Gravalot, Liberowe, Raw Mango, and Selasi promise fresh perspectives.
Milan Fashion Week: February 24-March 2, 2026
The fashion caravan moves to Milan from February 24 to March 2, where Italian craftsmanship, precision tailoring, and luxury finish take centre stage. Milan's schedule represents a masterclass in heritage blending with innovation, with houses like Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Armani setting the agenda for luxury interpretation in coming seasons.
This season carries particular emotional weight as the first since the passing of legendary designer Valentino Garavani on January 19, 2026, whose contributions to Italy's global fashion identity will undoubtedly inspire tributes. The week also features Maria Grazia Chiuri's highly anticipated debut at Fendi, marking her return to the Roman house where her fashion journey began. Meanwhile, Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, and Versace continue their creative recalibrations, while a new generation of Italian designers including Marco Rambaldi, Sunnei, and Magliano inject contemporary energy.
Paris Fashion Week: March 3-11, 2026
Paris Fashion Week, running from March 3 to 11, represents the pièce de résistance of the fashion calendar. The season begins under the thoughtful shadow of Véronique Nichanian's departure from Hermès after 37 years as men's artistic director – one of fashion's longest-serving creative leaders – marking the end of an era.
Several significant debuts and transitions signal new creative chapters for storied Parisian houses. Antonin Tron presents his first autumn/winter collection as Balmain's newly appointed creative director, with his sculptural minimalism and fabric-forward approach generating considerable anticipation. Following his successful involvement in Dior's men's programme, Irish designer Jonathan Anderson is expected to showcase his first full women's ready-to-wear collection in Paris, bringing his conceptual yet wearable sensibility to one of fashion's most iconic maisons. While some transitions like Grace Wales Bonner's future Hermès menswear takeover are scheduled for later, the overall season reflects broader creative movements across Paris and the global calendar, with designers bringing fresh visions to reinvigorate heritage houses.
