Show Announcement: Dubai Fashion Week Reveals 2026 Dates and Expands Global Ambitions for AW26/27 Edition

Dubai Fashion Week (DFW)* has confirmed that its Autumn/Winter 2026–2027 edition will run from 1–6 February 2026, with organisers promising a dynamic programme designed to further cement Dubai’s status as a global fashion capital. The event is set to showcase a wide-ranging roster of designers, supported by an expanded buyers’ programme, curated presentations, and a slate of high-profile industry engagements.

Etoile La Boutique - Dubai Fashoin WeeK Spring/Summer 2026 edition.

Co-founded by Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group PJSC, and the Arab Fashion Council (AFC), DFW continues to position itself strategically ahead of the major international fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. 

This season will highlight a strong mix of talent from the UAE and the wider MENA region, alongside designers from India, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, each bringing distinctive cultural perspectives to the Dubai runway.

Paolo Sabastian - Dubai Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 edition.

The announcement follows the success of the Spring/Summer 2026 season, which marked a major milestone for the platform. That edition featured an array of regional and international designers, immersive citywide showcases, the latest Thread Talks instalment, an expanded Buyers Programme, and a series of brand activations. Its elevated guest list — including leading editors, buyers, celebrities, and global industry figures — helped propel the event to new levels of international visibility.

Organisers say the upcoming AW26/27 season will build on this momentum with an even more ambitious schedule. Highlights will include runway shows, curated presentations, and industry discussions focused on sustainability, inclusivity, craftsmanship, and digital fashion. Exclusive collection launches, invitation-only dinners, and strategic networking events will also feature prominently throughout the week.

Jasmi HC - Dubai Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 edition.

Beyond d3, DFW will activate multiple locations across the city through its expanded Buyers’ Programme, offering global buyers from around the world access to private presentations, collection previews, and designer showrooms. The initiative aims to support designers seeking to broaden their international footprint.

Applications for participation are now open via the official DFW website, with all submissions reviewed by the event’s Selection Committee, which curates the final list of participating designers.

For all Dubai Fashion Week events and news, click HERE.

* Dubai Fashion Week traces its roots to 2008, when it launched as Fashion Forward Dubai (FFWD), a biannual platform designed to elevate emerging designers from the UAE, GCC, and wider Middle East. Over its early years, FFWD quickly became the region’s leading fashion showcase, pairing runway presentations with industry talks and designer development programmes. 

Between 2015 and 2022, the platform evolved in scale and ambition, reflecting Dubai’s rise as both a cultural and commercial powerhouse. Increased participation from international buyers and editors helped transform the event from a regional showcase into an influential stop on the global fashion circuit. In 2023, FFWD formally rebranded as Dubai Fashion Week, co-founded by d3 and the Arab Fashion Council. 

Today, Dubai Fashion Week is recognised as a vital bridge between East and West, leveraging the city’s unique geographic position and multicultural identity to connect designers, buyers, and markets across the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, and Africa. Dubai’s role as a luxury, tourism, and creative hub enhances the event’s global draw.

Trade Fair: Pure London x JATC to launch in February 2024; coinciding with Scoop London

Pure London, the fashion trade fair in the UK, has revealed its collaboration with Just Around The Corner (JATC) starting from February 2024. This partnership will give rise to "Pure London x JATC," a new venture falling within the retail division of Hyve, the parent company.

Scheduled for 11th to 13th February 2024 at Olympia London, the inaugural joint event aims to provide buyers with an enriched experience. Expect a dynamic showcase featuring an expanded array of visionary fashion designers and brands, according to the event organizers.

Pure London July 2023 at Kensington Olympia, London.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

This new collaboration aims to streamline and enhance the experience for fashion professionals, buyers, and press—both local and international. Rather than navigating between separate venues, attendees can now access both events in a single location, saving valuable time and effort compared to previous fairs. The coinciding Scoop International London fair, focused on premium fashion, will also be hosted at Olympia West within the same exhibition pavilion.

Experts within the industry view this partnership as a rising trend, where competing trade events join forces to create a more robust fair. This strategic move comes in response to the intensifying competition within the market and also addresses the economic implications stemming from the post-pandemic landscape. A similar merging trend was observed earlier this month when Copenhagen International Fashion Fair merged with the Danish fair Revolver.

The July 2023 edition of PURE London held at Olympia in Kensington showcased a more compact arrangement. In contrast, the upcoming Pure London x JATC event in February 2024 will present a meticulously curated assortment of over 300 brands, including emerging designers.

Gloria Sandrucci, the event director of Pure London x JATC, expressed in a statement that this inaugural joint fair signifies a milestone in the history of these two fashion exhibitions. The driving force behind this collaboration is the shared vision to simplify and enhance the buying experience for purchasers.

She emphasized that Pure London's mission is to evolve into Europe's most captivating and diverse fashion celebration, offering a curated selection of brands, trustworthy trend insights, transformative business prospects, all while championing sustainability. By uniting with JATC and leveraging Pure London's 25-year legacy, the combined teams can pool their expertise, resources, and networks to create the preeminent fashion trade show experience. This unified approach addresses the needs of buyers and delivers the ultimate collection of brands under the iconic roof of Olympia London, said Ms Sandrucci.