The Tamesis
The 2026 Autumn and Winter Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) will kick off on Monday. The event enters its 20th anniversary and the schedule is more compact. It is expected that this summer will usher in a hot season.
From January 27th to 30th (one day less than normal), we expect 21 fashion shows (down from 27 last January) and scattered presentations. Still, buyers and editors are anticipating the return of Norwegian brand Holzweiler — which spent several seasons from Copenhagen to London, from Spring/Summer 2024 to Autumn/Winter 2024 — and its return for a one-off Homecoming show, a new slot for the Scandinavian brand returning to the Danish capital after appearances elsewhere.
Other shows to watch include Nicklas Skovgaard, Caro Editions and the recently relaunched Anne Sofie Madsen, who made her acclaimed catwalk debut last season with her critically acclaimed rat bag. London-based brand Paolina Russo, winner of the 2023 Zalando Sustainability Award, will also return to the schedule after taking last season off.
“I was particularly excited to attend the launch of the CPHFW 20th Anniversary Celebration as I attended the first edition of the event,” said Fashion Senior Archives Editor Laird Borelli-Persson. “In terms of the brand, I’m excited to see Caro Editions expand its reach and how Nicklas Skovgaard is using his Wessel & Vett Fashion Award to explore new product categories.” She added that Anne-Sophie Madsen is also “a huge fan. [her] Many eyes were on Madsen after designer and co-creative director Caroline Clante relaunched the brand early last year and debuted it on the Spring/Summer 2026 runway.
“I always look forward to Copenhagen Fashion Week. It’s always full of energy and joy that I really crave,” said Angélique Liautaud, Director of Women’s Wear, Accessories and Circular Buying at Printemps. “Copenhagen has always been a strong platform for established brands and emerging Nordic designers. Its more intimate format makes the experience very enjoyable, fostering a strong sense of community.”
This season, two Swedish brands have joined the NewTalent One to Watch program, which aims to help fledgling brands get off the ground as planned. Upcycled brand Sson will hold a show on Tuesday afternoon, followed by up-and-coming womenswear label Taus, which joined the One to Watch program last season. Then, slow fashion brand Studio Constance will make its debut at Stockholm Fashion Week on Tuesday night, following its debut at Stockholm Fashion Week last June.
Stem, the knitwear brand of British designer Sarah Brunnhuber from Copenhagen, graduated from One to Watch and officially joined the NewTalent program, receiving financial support and guidance to hold the 2026 autumn and winter fashion show. Palestinian brand Nazzal Studio will make its debut at CPHFW, becoming the first Palestinian brand to debut as planned. Its designer Sylwia Nazzal won the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award at the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards in 2024.
“We are constantly on the lookout for new designers and this season our focus will be on emerging Nordic talent,” says Liautaud. “While Scandinavian minimalism is still very popular among our consumers, I will be looking for a fresh energy – one that always strikes the right balance between simplicity and creativity. I’m interested to see if and how the heritage revival trend is being reinterpreted; in uncertain times, our consumers are drawn to reassuring pieces and enduring trends.” She lists Rotate as one of the brands she’s most excited about.
Off the track, there’s plenty to see and do. again, fashion business A program of talks will be held in partnership with CPHFW, covering a wide range of topics including the role of magazines, fashion over the next 20 years, cultivating the longevity of clothing and innovation in sizing.
