We’ve been covering Budapest Central European Fashion Week for several seasons now, and each edition has shown a steady evolution. But this year, the change feels more structural. From September 1 to 7, the 16th edition of BCEFW will take place across various venues in Budapest, and for the first time, university graduate collections are officially part of the programme.
This move gives young Hungarian designers real visibility, not just on the local scene, but on an international stage as well. Collections by students from the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) and Budapest Metropolitan University (METU) will be presented as part of the official calendar. METU’s show opens the week at the National Museum, while MOME will host its traditional fashion show, symposium, and exhibition later in the week.
In total, nearly 100 designers from Hungary and across the Central and Eastern European region will participate this season, including creators from Czechia, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Ukraine. According to the organisers, almost 60% of the featured brands are led by young designers. Some of them come from HFDA’s New Generation initiatives or are winners of recent emerging talent competitions.
It’s not unusual for BCEFW to emphasise the regional aspect of fashion. Since its launch in 2018, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency has used this platform to connect designers, institutions, and buyers from across Central Europe. This year’s edition reinforces that focus while adding more layers of education and industry development to the agenda. The main shows will be held at Millenáris and the Apolló Gallery between September 5 and 7. Meanwhile, the Fashion Hub, located at the National Dance Theatre, will host roundtables and workshops aimed at industry professionals. Throughout the week, showrooms, exhibitions, and pop-up events will also take place around the city, involving both commercial and cultural spaces.
We've attended BCEFW multiple times and have seen how it has grown from a niche fashion week into one of the most significant events in the region. What stands out this year is a clearer intention to support the next generation and to make their work visible to both media and potential buyers. There’s less focus on spectacle and more on structure: education, mentorship, and giving real runway space to those at the beginning of their careers. The shift isn’t radical, but it feels like a solid step in the right direction. BCEFW’s strength lies in its ability to mix local specificity with broader regional relevance, something that’s still rare in the European fashion landscape.
