Australian Fashion Week 2026 has commenced with sheer silhouettes and extravagant dresses taking over the streets of Sydney.
The 2026 AFW will take place from May 11 to 15 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia’s designers showing off their new collections.
On day one, Carla Zampatti, Maticevski, Buluuy Mirrii and more showed off their new designs. Of those to come, we’re particularly eager to see what Esse, Nagnata, Gary Bigeni, and Nagali will offer.
But runway shows are the only appeal.
This is the Wimbledon for Australia’s most fashionable, where each outfit is meticulously planned and designed. With so many shows, comes incredibly stylish moments off the catwalk.
The Weekly is deciphering some of the trends and the best moments we’re seeing at Australian Fashion Week 2026.
Aje
Aje presented it’s Resort 2027 collection at AFW, and it was the perfect combination of statement pieces and effortless designs that we’ve come to love for 18 years.
The collection was inspired by Australia, its sweeping landscapes, hues and imagery. Below are some of our favourite picks from the catwalk as worn by attendees.
Fringe
Shaggy bohemian fringe has been slowly working its way back into fashion for a while now. Now, Australian labels are incorporating the trend into their latest collections.
From what we’ve seen, fringe isn’t styled as ‘bohemian’, but rather adds movement to a chic design. On Day Three Esse incorporated a lot of fringe into its designs. But we’ve also seen it off the catwalk.
Look below for some inspiration.
Intruder alert
On Day Two of AFW, models in the COMMAS show strut down the cement staircase onto the sand at Tamarama Beach in Sydney. But so too did a member of the public.
Gearing up for a swim, he seemed oblivious to the catwalk before putting his belongings down next to the makeshift runway. In a video shared by So Sydney!, the local began stretching before enjoying a dip in the ocean.
Bomber Jackets
Fashion is a cycle; what was trending a decade ago will return, and bomber jackets are proof of that theory.
With Winter looming in Australia, bomber jackets are high on the trending scale – along with funnel neck coats. We’ve spotted a few guests wearing suede bomber jackets (because leather had its jacket moment a few years ago).
Sheer is (still) in
Adding a sheer layer to elevate any outfit became the ‘it’ trend of Australian Summer 2026, and despite the cooling weather, the ladies are proving sheer still has a place at AFW.
Championing the look on Day Two was Aje, featuring soft pinks, whites and browns in the beautiful material.
We spotted the trend on the first day of AFW, and particularly loved the below styling: a simple champagne silk dress, elevated with a sheer top and accessorised with a chunky bangle.
Carla Zampatti
The show must go on, even in the rain. Concluding day one, designer Carla Zampatti presented its new collection with a drizzle covering the models and attendees.
But the line, dominated by black, fringe, structured looks and small pops of colour, seemed more dreamy.
Some of our favourite outfits are listed below.
