MELBOURNE IS THE RUNWAY: YOUR GUIDE TO M/FW 2026

Oct 12

5 min read

Dates: 19–25 October 2026

Theme: Wear the Moment

Location: Melbourne, Victoria

Melbourne is getting dressed for its biggest fashion moment of the season. Returning from 19–25 October, Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) will transform the city into a celebration of style, individuality and creative expression, bringing together more than 300 designers and retailers across more than 100 free and ticketed events.

This year’s theme, Wear the Moment, celebrates the people, places and ideas shaping Melbourne’s fashion identity. From emerging local talent to established Australian labels, the program spans premium runways, exhibitions, industry conversations, independent events and immersive experiences across some of the city’s most recognisable venues.

With more than 90 per cent of participating designers, models, students and retailers coming from Melbourne, M/FW is also a celebration of the local fashion industry and the creative community behind it.

A Fashion Week Across the City

For the first time, Melbourne Fashion Week will open at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), with the ganbu marra runway in Gandel Hall showcasing First Nations designers and creatives.

Fashion will also return to the newly revamped City Square, where dedicated runways will spotlight Melbourne-based designers and retailers. Other venues include State Library Victoria, Younghusband in Kensington and 1 Hotel Melbourne.

Across seven premium runway presentations, more than 600 looks will celebrate the diversity of Australian fashion, from contemporary streetwear and independent labels to statement occasion wear and couture.

Featured designers across the program include Bianca Spender, búl, CLEA, Clothing The Gaps, ELK the Label, Gammin Threads, Grace Lillian Lee, Lucinda Babi, NGALI, Perple and Sean Rentero.

The Runway Schedule: What to See

Monday 19 October — Opening Night: ganbu marra

Venue: National Gallery of Victoria, Gandel Hall

Styling: Lindyn Rowland

Opening M/FW for the first time at the NGV, ganbu marra celebrates First Nations creativity, design and cultural expression.

Featured designers: Atyene Clothing, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Ebony Noire, Kaninda, Marnin Studio, OUT OF HAND x Lisa Waup, Rowland Vision, Saretta The Label, Van Ermel Scherer and Yapa Mali.

Wednesday 21 October — Cult Status Runway

Venue: State Library Victoria

Styling: Joseph Romano

A celebration of contemporary design and distinctive creative identities, this runway brings together independent labels and designers pushing the boundaries of Australian fashion.

Featured designers: Chris Ran Lin, Club Venus, Gotham, Hunter Gatherer x BSL, LIANDRA, PERPLE, R.SPORT, TOILÉ STUDIOS, WAH-WAH AUSTRALIA and WILSON JEDD ADAMS.

Thursday 22 October — The Edit Runway

Venue: Younghusband, Kensington

Styling: Stuart Walford

The Edit celebrates modern femininity and considered design, bringing together established names and emerging creative voices.

Featured designers: Asiyam, Atoir, Bianca Spender, CLEA, EDITION x Sarrita King, ELIYA THE LABEL, Elka Collective, NGALI, Oroton, Third Form and Raffaele Ciuca presents Vivienne Westwood.

Friday 23 October — Student Collections Runway

Venue: Younghusband, Kensington

Styling: Stuart Walford

Spotlighting the next generation of Australian fashion talent, this runway features student designers presenting collections developed through their studies.

Participating institutions:

Box Hill Institute
LCI Melbourne
RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles
Whitehouse Institute of Design Australia

Saturday 24 October — City Square Runway 1: Street Style

Venue: City Square

Styling: Gideon Wilonja

Melbourne's street-style culture takes centre stage in a runway dedicated to everyday expression, urban influences and the labels shaping the city's fashion landscape.

Featured designers and retailers: búl, Clothing The Gaps, ELK the Label, Gammin Threads, gorman, HoMie, Kuwaii, NTV Shop (National Trust Victoria) and Salomon.

Saturday 24 October — City Square Runway 2: After Hours

Venue: City Square

Styling: Gideon Wilonja

As the city moves into evening, After Hours explores fashion with a bolder, more expressive edge, celebrating the people and labels defining Melbourne's after-dark style.

Featured designers and retailers: Anna Thomas, Collective Closets x Mariam Farah, et al, Foemina, Godwin Charli, Knickerbocker, Mr. Cuff, Scotch & Soda and TOJHÀ.

Saturday 24 October — The AO Edit

Venue: City Square

Presented by: Australian Open

A new addition to the program, The AO Edit brings sport and fashion together with a preview of Australian Open 2027 style. The free runway showcases the Australian Open's premium lifestyle range, partner New Balance and a first look at the BOSS ballkids' uniforms.

Time: 6pm, according to the published program announcement.

Sunday 25 October — Closing Runway: Wear the Moment

Venue: 1 Hotel Melbourne, Docklands

Styling: Karinda Mutabazi

Closing the week, Wear the Moment brings together designers, creatives and subcultures in a celebration of individuality and Melbourne's diverse fashion identity. Combining runway, live performance and music, the presentation captures the spirit of the 2026 theme.

Featured designers: Alessandro Lorenzo Greco, AMISS, Amy Cottrell, BAAQIY, Corde Couture, Grace Lillian Lee, Lucinda Babi, Paris Jade Burrows, Posture Studio, Réseau, Saint Stella M and Suzaan Stander.

Published session times: 6pm and 8.30pm.

Runway times and ticket availability can change. Check the official listings before attending.

Beyond the Runway: Fashion Capsules

Running from 28 September to 25 October across five locations, the Fashion Capsules program presents more than 30 local designers and creatives through curated exhibitions.

The program extends the fashion conversation beyond the catwalk, with showcases celebrating First Nations design, sustainable fashion and student creativity.

One of the standout highlights is a world-exclusive couture bridal collection presentation by Melbourne bridal institution Raffaele Ciuca, featuring internationally renowned designers Vivienne Westwood, Vera Wang, Steven Khalil and Nicole & Felicia.

Independent Events, Conversations and Experiences

Beyond the headline runways, more than 30 independent events form part of the broader M/FW program, offering different ways to engage with fashion and the creative industries.

Highlights include:

Fashion and dining: A fashion-inspired dining experience at Pastuso.
Sustainability: A conversation and clothing swap with the United Nations Association of Australia.
Fashion and advocacy: A runway showcase presented by Amnesty International.
Emerging talent: The return of the Emerging Artists Collective.
Industry conversations: M/FW Conversations, presented by Collarts, featuring discussions on building a fashion business and the representation of women over 50 in fashion, moderated by journalist and author Virginia Trioli.

M/FW ticket holders can also access selected partner and designer offers, alongside hospitality specials at participating restaurants, cafés and bars throughout the city.

Fashion with a Local Impact

Melbourne Fashion Week is more than a celebration of what we wear. It is an important platform for the local fashion and retail industries, supporting approximately 1,000 jobs and generating more than $32 million in economic uplift, according to the City of Melbourne.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece describes Melbourne as Australia's fashion and culture capital, with self-expression at the heart of its identity. The event reflects that spirit by connecting established designers, independent retailers, emerging talent and audiences across the city.

With more than 100 events, iconic venues and a program that spans fashion, culture, sustainability and business, M/FW offers an opportunity to discover the people shaping Melbourne's creative future.

This October, the invitation is simple: wear what expresses you, discover something new and be part of the moment.