NZFW’s 2026 schedule announcement cements its position as both an industry incubator and a major force in Auckland’s fashion and hospitality economy.
New Zealand Fashion Week has announced to industry heads and stakeholders that the new 2026 schedule will host a number of runway milestones, including a debut solo runway show from Caitlin Crisp, who will take the opening designer slot at Shed 10 on Tāmaki Makaurau’s Queen’s Wharf.
Caitlin Crisp first appeared on the NZFW runway as part of a graduate showcase eight years ago, and has since built a steady womenswear business with a strong retail presence in Auckland. Her elevation to the opening designer reflects both that trajectory and NZFW’s continued emphasis on supporting local brands as they scale.
Crisp’s show will set the tone for a week that blends established names with newer voices. Returning designers include Juliette Hogan, Kathryn Wilson, taylor and The Shelter, alongside Kāhui Collective and Pacific Fusion – two group presentations that continue to foreground Māori and Pasifika design perspectives within the schedule. From Wellington, twenty-seven names will also stage a solo show as part of its 20-year anniversary, making a long-awaited comeback to the NZFW schedule after many years away. The Pōneke-based brand will also show as part of Wellington City Art Gallery’s inaugural Common Material event schedule on June 6 and 7, reinforcing their love for the arts and their fierce commitment to their home city.
Alongside these returning brands, NZFW 2026 introduces The Studio, a new group runway show curated by NZFW Creative Director, Dan Ahwa. Positioned as a platform for contemporary designers, the show brings together labels that are shaping the current direction of New Zealand fashion. Our prediction? This will be one of the hottest shows of the week.
The Studio lineup currently includes Harris Tapper, REBE, Longform, Penny Sage, Fringes, Rhoda Nunn and Bronwyn Footwear, among others yet to be announced. While each brand operates with a distinct design language, the grouping reflects a shared focus on modern wardrobe solutions, materiality and small-scale production.
Harris Tapper’s tailored approach sits alongside Penny Sage’s more fluid, artisanal aesthetic, while labels like REBE and Longform introduce a conceptual dimension. Accessories are also part of the mix, with Bronwyn Footwear highlighting the role of locally designed and produced footwear within the broader fashion ecosystem.
As a format, The Studio builds on the success of NZFW’s group shows in 2025, which drew strong audience interest and offered a more accessible entry point for both designers and attendees. The addition of a curated contemporary showcase signals a more structured approach to these multi-designer presentations, with a clearer point of view underpinning the selection.
Elsewhere in the schedule, several brands will make their NZFW debut. Cashmere label Elle & Riley will mark its 10-year anniversary with its first runway show, while THE ICONIC returns with a group presentation, reinforcing the role of retail platforms in the event’s Australasian fashion ecosystem.
Younger and emerging designers remain a focus. Sonnie returns following its 2025 presentation, and Walk The Line will again provide a platform for secondary school students. From Christchurch, Tough Auto will stage a public-facing “food and fashion” event in collaboration with restaurants Londo and No. 7, reflecting a broader shift towards experiential formats for the reinvented NZFW Auckland event.
NZFW’s own programmed shows will also return, including VIVA Presents Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, and Future of Fashion Driven by Giltrap Group. With the event’s shift in 2025 to become more public facing, group shows like Greatest Hits become key fixtures of the schedule, contributing to audience engagement beyond traditional runway formats. We’re thrilled to see them return in 2026.
The 2026 event will continue to build on last year’s revised structure, with an emphasis on increasing both domestic and international attendance. Additional programming, including the official opening event curated by Dan Ahwa, will be announced in the coming months.
Within that broader framework, Crisp’s solo show moment remains a notable development. It reflects both her individual growth and a wider effort by New Zealand Fashion Week to position local designers at the centre of its programme.
Set against a schedule that mixes solo showcases with curated group presentations like The Studio, the 2026 event points to a format that is both commercially focused and responsive to the evolving structure of the industry.
Tickets to NZFW 2026 go on sale on Wednesday 6th May via nzfashionweek.com.
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Images supplied by Radlab
