Budapest Central European Fashion Week S/S 2026

It’s undeniable that there are simply too many fashion weeks worldwide. We are, after all, in one of the industry’s busiest months, with brands releasing new collections, drops, and campaigns designed to go viral and capture attention week after week. Every country — and often every city — wants to showcase its creative talent to the world while securing a place on the international map, attracting investors, buyers, and audiences eager to discover home-grown design. But is there truly space for them all?

Many European fashion weeks are still striving to ‘become the next Copenhagen Fashion Week,’ often referred to as the ‘fifth member of the big four’. Over the past decade, it has carved out a rightful place in the global calendar alongside New York and London, reigniting hopes for platforms that once viewed international recognition as unattainable.

But here lies the uncomfortable truth: not every city, country, or creative community can embody Nordic style, kaleidoscopic streetwear, or sustainability in its most radical form. Nor can every fashion week secure the kind of long-term strategic partnerships that have given Copenhagen its enviable stability. Which raises the question: does it make sense for them all to pursue the same goal?

At their core, fashion weeks are meeting points where designers, brands, buyers, investors, editors, and countless others connect each season. But for such a meeting point to matter, it must have something unique — something that positions it clearly and convincingly in people’s minds.

Budapest Central European Fashion Week faces a considerable challenge. Hungary has produced internationally recognised names such as Nanushka and Aeron, alongside a wealth of talented professionals, but placing Budapest on the same level as Paris or Milan would be misleading. Those cities still concentrate the industry’s financial power and institutional weight.

In less than a decade, Hungary’s flagship fashion event has tested multiple approaches: from runway shows to presentations, from historic city-centre venues to multipurpose spaces, from local designers to international names. This ongoing process of trial and refinement has been revealing. The conclusions, reflected in this year’s edition (1–7 September), felt particularly promising. One of the biggest shifts this year was the focus on young Hungarian designers. That spotlight on emerging talent was one of the event’s strongest statements. For the first time, graduation collections from university students were included in the official programme, giving a new generation their debut moment on both domestic and international stages. It signalled the organisers’ ambition to position BCEFW as a creative hub where fresh names and brands can emerge.

And this hub is not confined to Hungary’s borders. Embracing regional collaboration, BCEFW invited young designers from neighbouring countries to participate. “The BCEFW aims to serve as a bridge between regional countries while operating an effective Central Eastern European fashion network hub, presenting the collections of the region’s significant representatives for the first time in a given season,” the organisers explained in a statement.

The lead-up to BCEFW involved intensive collaboration. Hungary was joined by six other Central European countries — Czechia, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Ukraine — and the event showcased over a hundred designers, more than seventy of them Hungarian. Added to the over fifty side events staged throughout the week, these figures highlight the ambition, professionalism, and tireless dedication of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency.

One of the most exciting alliances came from the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) and the Budapest Metropolitan University (METU) Fashion and Textile Design Programme, both presenting their diploma collections. Beyond the institutional benefits, it was a chance to witness raw creativity from the new generation, whose work stood out not only for its inventiveness but also for its clear sense of identity.

While the main runway shows ran from 5–7 September at the Apolló Gallery and Building D of Millenáris, the National Dance Theatre hosted the Fashion Hub across the weekend, with roundtable discussions and industry workshops. It proved that BCEFW is not limited to the catwalk but is building a complete experience, emphasising knowledge-sharing and engaging a broader audience who love fashion and want to understand its intricacies.

Friday was defined by collective shows, with young designers from across the region presenting their work. Standouts included Aleksandar Latinović, Ivana Tokin, Iva Ivanovic, Jerry Fürst, Naiad, Princ Z Moravy, Lan Krebs, Timotej Bistan, Sila Kejžar, Atelier Musa, Lenka Krivá, and Petra Weingart.

Saturday shifted the focus to more established names, with Nanushka marking its twentieth anniversary by unveiling Reflections, a collection exploring the intuitive connection between the human spirit and the metaphysical. While impeccably executed, it leaned more commercial than in previous seasons. Aeron presented a Spring/Summer 2026 collection celebrating summer as a season of real-world connections. One of the surprises was Medeea, the Bucharest-based brand founded in 2020 by Medeea Ene, which delivered striking looks and sharp styling. 

Also on the runway were Petra Kubíková, Michael Kovacik, Lukas Machacek, Sagi, TheFour – Conscious by BCEFW, Nubu, and Kata Szegedi, who opted for an off-site presentation. Sunday’s schedule centred on showcases and local talent, notably Borbala, a label we had already seen in previous editions.

Beyond fashion, BCEFW continues to highlight hospitality and culture, weaving gastronomy and tourism into the experience. Over the week we connected with industry professionals across some of Budapest’s most acclaimed restaurants and hotels: Dorothea Hotel, Ida Bistro, Múzsa Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, W Budapest, Alelí, and BiBo Budapest, the latter two led by celebrated Spanish chef Dani García. Special mention goes to Omorovicza, the Hungarian skincare brand and loyal BCEFW partner.

Budapest Central European Fashion Week has once again demonstrated the importance of knowing a project’s DNA, understanding its resources and ambitions, and shaping a strategy that is both sustainable and distinctive. All signs suggest we are witnessing the consolidation of a new fashion hub for Central and Eastern Europe.