Set to kick off May 11, in 2026 Australian Fashion Week will return to Sydney with a new location and a cohort of talented designers.

Australian Fashion Week (AFW) is returning as a city-wide platform anchored at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) and supported by satellite activations across the metropolitan area.

The Australian Fashion Council (AFC), in partnership with Strategic Partner Destination NSW, announced the MCA will be the central hub for AFC AFW, marking a bold new chapter for the event.

The MCA will host a purpose-built runway and presentation environment, industry talks and cultural programming, media and buyer facilities, and curated brand activations.

This year, the AFW runway will welcome a handful of First Nations designers and brands, including Ngali, Sarrita King, KingKing Creative, Buluuy Mirrii and Van Ermel Scherer.

"We are so excited and honoured to be showcasing at AFW in KingKing's debut on the DHL Next Generation runway," said Tarisse King of KingKing Creative.

"As a First Nations-owned and lead brand, it is really important to have visibility for the mob - if you can see it, you can be it.

"Country, Community and Culture are at the forefront of our whole collection and career. It is about sharing our beautiful perspective of the world from an Indigenous point of view."

Ngali designer Denni Francisco shared her excitement at Ngali returning to the runway for another year.

"It feels incredibly special to be included in the Australian Fashion Week line-up again," Francisco told Style Up.

"Every time we step into that space, it carries meaning; not just for Ngali as a brand, but for the broader visibility of First Nations fashion and storytelling within the industry."

The week will also see several talented First Nations models and creatives work their magic both in front and behind the camera.

Beyond the runways, AFC will host designer talks, experiences and other special events.

Together, these events and activations strengthen AFW's role as a national industry platform and a vibrant cultural event.

AFW provides critical commercial opportunities to drive business growth for designers and brands and offers an invaluable platform for designers to showcase their collections to leading international media and buyers.

"Bringing Australian Fashion Week to the Museum of Contemporary Art marks an exciting new chapter for the event and for Australian fashion more broadly," said AFC executive chair Marianne Perkovic.

"The MCA provides an iconic Sydney backdrop that reflects the creativity, cultural relevance and global outlook of our designers, while enabling a more open, connected and internationally compelling format.

"AFW 2026 is designed not just as a runway schedule, but as a national industry platform and a cultural moment for the city."

NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper commented on the event's impact on broader Sydney.

"As the nation's fashion capital, this is exactly the kind of bold, iconic experience we want to see in Sydney - there is no better example of our city's unique combination of natural wonder and cultural vibrancy than Fashion Week on the harbour, at one of our most recognisable cultural institutions," he said.

"The NSW Government is proud to partner with the Australian Fashion Council to deliver Australian Fashion Week 2026 at the MCA and across the city, showcasing Sydney as a world-leading destination for fashion, creativity and cultural experiences."

In addition to Destination NSW, AFW is made possible through the support of Partners Create NSW, City of Sydney, Afterpay, Canon, DHL, eBay, Hisense and Nivea.

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