Copenhagen Fashion Week’s Spring 2026 season is set to unfold under the compelling theme of renewal, signaling a significant evolution within the Nordic fashion landscape. This eagerly anticipated event promises a vibrant convergence of seasoned designers embarking on new creative trajectories and celebrated brands making triumphant homecomings, collectively contributing to a dynamic showcase of innovation and sustained artistic vision.
Leading this resurgence are three influential female designers who are revitalizing their work with fresh perspectives. Anne Sofie Madsen is meticulously reshaping her long-dormant brand, while the craft-obsessed Freya Dalsjø is making a highly anticipated return to the runway. Additionally, Astrid Andersen will present her new label, Stel, for the third consecutive time, further solidifying her reimagined presence within the industry.
The spirit of homecoming is equally central, with brands deeply woven into CPHFW’s history returning to the official schedule. This includes Arnar Már Jónsson and Luke Stevens, recognized as Zalando Sustainability Award winners who debuted on the catwalk previously. Also making a notable return is a prominent Swedish brand, last seen on the schedule in 2020, and hometown hero Cecilie Bahnsen, typically showcasing in Paris, who will stage a poignant 10-year retrospective presentation in the Danish capital.
A particularly heartening aspect of this season is the continued presence of “graduates” from Copenhagen Fashion Week’s New Talent scheme, such as LVMH finalists, alongside the return of impactful labels like STEM and P.L.N. While the fashion world’s appetite for novelty remains insatiable, this season prominently underscores that fostering and sustaining creative businesses is paramount, recognizing that the descriptor “emerging” can encompass both burgeoning young designers and experienced creators reimagining their established careers.
Attendees of Copenhagen Fashion Week will also experience an extensive culinary and social program designed to enhance their immersion in the event’s vibrant atmosphere. The official schedule boasts twelve breakfasts, two cocktail receptions, and six dinners, promising abundant opportunities for networking and cultural exchange. Notably, a prominent brand, which recently ventured into tableware, will host a unique soirée with Josephine Yaa Akuamoa of File Under Pop, a local firm specializing in surface design, while another well-known Copenhagen brand gathers friends to meet its new creative director, Emilie Martinsen-Kønigsfeldt.
Further enriching the experiential aspect, renowned Swedish chef Marion Ringborg will craft an exquisite Italian feast, drawing direct inspiration from a featured brand’s spring 2026 campaign, which was beautifully photographed in Palermo. Danish singer Coco O. is also slated to perform, adding a melodic dimension to the evening. Extending the innovative use of space and thematic design, Uniqlo aims to embody the ethereal softness of its knitwear through an immersive installation titled Soufflé House, inviting guests to “bring the fluff to life” in a unique tactile experience.
The season also introduces intriguing newer brands to the schedule, including Kettle Atelier and Martin Quad, each bringing a distinctive vision. Kettle Atelier, a project by a street style regular working from Spain, focuses on transforming vintage fabrics and table textiles into light, body-revealing designs. In contrast, Martin Juncker’s Martin Quad collection draws darker inspiration from Eugene Richard’s 1989 photo book, with the designer emphasizing a clinical atmosphere over literal illness. An acclaimed artist, known for performing with a collaborator at Nicklas Skovgaard’s fall show, will style this collection. Another promising new talent, a recent graduate of Weissensee Kunsthochschule Berlin and a former Skovgaard intern and dresser at the Royal Ballet, will stage a performance-based runway on a public street, showcasing an avant-garde approach to presentation.
Rounding out the significant returns, a celebrated brand which commenced showing in Paris in 2022, makes a celebratory homecoming for Spring 2026. To commemorate a decade in business, this brand will stage a retrospective show featuring archival garments. Similarly, another long-standing brand’s Spring 2026 collection will incorporate some legacy pieces as the brand, founded by Maria Høgh Heilmann in 2005, marks “twenty times around the sun.” Furthermore, the return from Iceland of a 100-year-old established Icelandic brand adds another layer of historical depth and diversity to the week’s offerings, reinforcing Copenhagen’s role as a vibrant hub for both established and evolving fashion narratives.
