Berlin has been giving us plenty to talk about lately. After covering Berlin Fashion Week repeatedly over the past few years, we have watched the German capital strengthen an identity that feels increasingly its own, with emerging talent, experimentation and a more decentralised approach playing an important role. Now, as preparations begin for its next edition, running from January 29 to February 1, 2027, two competitions are opening the door to the projects that could help shape it.
Applications for Berlin Contemporary and Studio2Retail are currently open, with both calls accepting submissions until October 5 at 11:59 pm CET. Supported by Berlin’s Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises through Project Future, the initiative puts funding behind concepts centred around innovation, creativity and sustainability. And importantly, we are not talking about symbolic support: the selected projects receive financial backing to actually bring their ideas to life during fashion week.
Berlin Contemporary focuses on fashion shows and presentations, with nineteen grants of €25,000 available. While much of the programme remains dedicated to Berlin and Germany-based talent, up to six grants can go to international fashion labels, making this edition particularly interesting for designers looking to bring their work to the city. One additional grant is specifically dedicated to a label based in an African country and comes with further production and guest-management support.
Studio2Retail, meanwhile, takes fashion beyond the traditional runway. The programme supports B2C concepts developed around stores and ateliers, from showrooms and pop-ups to other formats capable of connecting designers, businesses and the public. Six selected concepts can usually receive €5,000 each, although applicants must be commercially active and based in Germany, with Berlin-based projects being particularly encouraged.
It is precisely this broader understanding of what a fashion week can be that has made Berlin increasingly interesting to follow. Shows matter, of course, but so do the communities and ideas developing around them. Both competitions place sustainability, inclusion and genuine impact among their requirements, while leaving room for applicants to rethink how fashion can be presented and experienced.
The deadline is approaching, so if you have a project in mind, now is the time to start putting it together. Full requirements and applications are available through the Berlin Fashion Week website.
