Villa Noailles, in southern France, will host the 41st Hyères International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories from October 15 to 18, 2026, with exhibitions running until February 28, 2027. Recognised as one of the longest-running competitions dedicated to emerging fashion designers, photographers and accessory designers, the festival continues to serve as a platform for new creative talent. It's time to meet the promising new names that are entering the industry's big leagues.
Young talent remains at the centre of the festival. Through exhibitions, fashion shows, workshops and industry talks, the programme continues its commitment to discovering and mentoring the next generation of creatives. The jury of experts is one of the elements that define the high standards the festival is proud of, and in this edition the defining feature is its all-female jury presidency across the festival's three disciplines. Chemena Kamali, Creative Director of Chloé, will oversee the fashion competition; photographer Camille Vivier will chair the photography jury, while Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen, founder and creative director of her eponymous label, will lead the accessories competition.
The 2026 edition also marks a new chapter for Villa Noailles. Hugo Lucchino, recently appointed Executive Director after previously working at Paris's Palais Galliera, is leading the institution alongside President Valérie Duport, a communications executive with senior experience at Chanel and Kering. The artistic programme is overseen by Magalie Guérin, a long-standing figure at Villa Noailles, working with Nataniel N.M. Robert for fashion, Rebecca Cuglietta for photography and Florence Tétier for accessories.
Divided into three major categories, the festival just announced the names that will compete for the main and special prizes offered in each category. The finalists of the accessories category are Italy's Matteo Artuso; France's Daniel Cheruzel, Manon Fontaine, Matthieu Gautier, Jade Gautiez, Juliette Pasquier and Alizee Quitman; South Korea's Yoo Hwajung; Poland's Paweł Robuta; and Austria's Sassa Ann van Wyk. As for photography, the shortlist comprises China's Honglin Cai and Xueling Chen; Hong Kong's Yun Ki Ng; Switzerland's Zacharie Lewertoff and Lorane Hochstatter; Japan's Motoki Nakatani; France's Julien Rahmani and Sidonie Ronfard; Italy's Giulia Frigieri; and Valeria Sarto, representing Italy and the USA. Now, here's a deeper look at the fashion prize finalists.
Brais Albor Rodriguez - Spain
A graduate of EASD and Central Saint Martins, based between Milan and Santiago de Compostela, Albor is a menswear designer whose work draws on cinema and theatre costume design. He focuses on designing for "non-standard bodies", advocating what he describes as a "love revolution" centred on self-acceptance beyond conventional beauty standards.
Sofia Castellon - Mexico / United States
Educated at the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris and Central Saint Martins, Castellon specialises in fashion design and knitwear. Her work explores her mixed heritage through textiles and silhouettes, drawing on childhood memories and light-hearted storytelling to address wider socio-political issues.
Yui Chen - China
A graduate of Parsons Paris, Chen presents a unisex collection characterised by architectural structures, soft pastel palettes and an interplay between geometric outer forms and transparent inner layers. Her work reinterprets historical womenswear silhouettes through a contemporary lens.
Rachel Luurssen - The Netherlands
Having studied at the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris, Luurssen has gained experience with Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, building a promising career before presenting a unisex collection at this year's festival.
Jennifer Milleder - Austria
A Vienna-based fashion designer, Milleder's work bridges wearable fashion and art through sculptural silhouettes and three-dimensional draping. A graduate of the University of Applied Arts Vienna, she trained under Hussein Chalayan, Luke and Lucie Meier, and Grace Wales Bonner before working with Iris van Herpen. Her designs have appeared in international editions of Vogue and have been worn by musicians and actors.
Loïs Cousin - France
A graduate of Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris, Cousin has developed a creative language centred on streetwear and menswear.
Farnia Salim - Iran
Salim's work is deeply inspired by her Iranian heritage, translating cultural traditions, craftsmanship and personal memories into contemporary design. Her collections combine garment construction, textile research and sustainable practices to explore identity and emotional storytelling.
Dieter Vlasich Obermann - Mexico / Germany
Presenting a unisex collection, Vlasich Obermann explores textiles, layering, colour and fabric experimentation through a contemporary approach to garment construction.
Matil Vanlint - Belgium
A Belgian fashion designer and graduate of HEAD Genève, whom we already highlighted last year after attending their graduate show, Vanlint developed her distinctive creative vision through her graduate collection, V (Victim, Violence and Victory), which explores trauma, resilience and self-acceptance through sculptural, character-driven fashion.
Xiao Xu - China
Based in Paris and a graduate of Parsons Paris, Xu presents a menswear collection that explores unconventional textiles through her UNCANNY project. Her work has dressed Paloma Elsesser and has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, among other career milestones.
