ATLANTA FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES 2026 PROGRAMMING AND EXPANDED CITYWIDE SCHEDULE

Powered by BMW, Atlanta Fashion Week returns September 30–October 4 with The Vanguard Awards, ATLFW: Intersections, Bloomingdale’s x ATLFW: The Edit and an expanded network of Citywide Partnership Events

ATLANTA, GA — September 2026 — Atlanta Fashion Week (ATLFW) returns September 30–October 4, 2026, with key events taking place at Atlantic Station October 2-3, 2026. ATLFW will transform the city into a five-day celebration of fashion, culture, and commerce through official ATLFW programming and an expanded network of Citywide Partnership Events.

Powered by BMW and supported by Bloomingdale’s, DIOR with Bloomingdale’s, Rémy Martin, Atlantic Station, Elaine Sterling Institute, Higher Ground Events and Carlton Lee Studios, Atlanta Fashion Week continues its evolution as a platform dedicated to discovering and elevating designers, connecting creativity with commerce and strengthening Atlanta’s position within the global fashion conversation.

New for 2026, ATLFW is expanding its footprint across the city with the introduction of its Citywide Partnership Events schedule, bringing independently produced fashion, art, retail, lifestyle, and cultural experiences into one collective celebration of Atlanta’s creative community.

“Atlanta Fashion Week has always been about more than what happens on a runway,” said Angela Watts, Founder and Executive Producer of Atlanta Fashion Week. “Atlanta has an incredible creative ecosystem, and our goal is to create a platform where designers, retailers, artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural institutions can participate in what Fashion Week means for this city. By introducing our Citywide Partnerships, we are creating greater connectivity across Atlanta while giving audiences more ways to discover the people and ideas shaping what’s next.”

ATLFW 2026 OFFICIAL PROGRAMMING

THE VANGUARD AWARDS PRESENTED BY BMW

Friday, October 2 | Private Location

Atlanta Fashion Week will gather an intimate group of industry leaders, creatives, and invited guests for The Vanguard Awards Presented by BMW, an opening-night cocktail celebration honoring visionaries whose work and leadership have shaped fashion, culture, commerce, and creative legacy.

The 2026 Vanguard Awards will recognize:

Patrick Kelly — Vanguard Legacy Award, posthumouslyThe late American fashion designer will be honored for his extraordinary life, work and enduring influence on fashion and culture. Kelly broke barriers internationally while creating a body of work celebrated for its joy, wit, and unmistakable point of view, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire generations of designers and creatives.

Lauren Amos and Julie Hogg, Wish ATL — Retail Vanguard AwardAmos and Hogg will be recognized for their contributions to Atlanta’s retail and fashion landscape through Wish ATL and for helping create a destination where fashion, streetwear, art, and culture intersect.

Cathy Norwood — Fashion Catalyst AwardNorwood will be recognized for leadership that has helped create opportunities for independent and emerging designers, strengthening connections between creative talent, consumers, and the retail industry.

Alexander John — Vanguard Award for Creative InnovationThe acclaimed multidisciplinary artist and designer will be recognized for his distinctive work at the intersection of fashion, art, footwear, and contemporary culture.

Together, the honorees represent the spirit of The Vanguard Awards: individuals whose vision extends beyond their respective disciplines and whose work has contributed to culture, opened doors for others, and helped shape what comes next.

ATLFW: INTERSECTIONS

Saturday, October 3 | Atlantic Station

Fashion moves beyond the traditional runway with ATLFW: Intersections, an immersive designer presentation experience at Atlantic Station.

Independent and emerging designers will present their collections through live model installations and dedicated presentation environments, allowing audiences to experience the collections up close and engage with designers in a more intimate and dynamic setting.

Intersections reflect ATLFW’s commitment to discovery, creating a space where designers, industry leaders, media, tastemakers, and consumers can connect around new ideas, emerging talent, and the future of fashion.

BLOOMINGDALE’S x ATLFW: THE EDIT

Sunday, October 4

Atlanta Fashion Week concludes its official programming with Bloomingdale’s x ATLFW: The Edit, a curated shopping experience connecting independent and emerging brands directly with consumers.

Featuring more than 30 independent and emerging brands, The Edit transforms discovery into commerce, giving audiences the opportunity to shop designers and brands while providing participating businesses with increased visibility, customer engagement, and access to a major retail environment.

ATLANTA FASHION WEEK GOES CITYWIDE

For 2026, Atlanta Fashion Week is expanding beyond its official programming with the introduction of ATLFW Citywide Partnership Events, bringing independently produced experiences from throughout Atlanta into a shared Fashion Week calendar.

The expanded schedule begins Wednesday, September 30, extending Atlanta Fashion Week across five days and multiple destinations throughout the city.

The 2026 Citywide calendar includes Runway for A Cause at Buckhead Art & Company, an evening bringing fashion, art and philanthropy together in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Atlanta Art Fair at Pullman Yards, where Atlanta Fashion Week serves as a Cultural Partner; ATELIER’s Fashion Influencer Rooftop Cocktails + Private Editorial Suite Social; the 2nd Annual Fashion & Friends Night Out; and Personal Space, a fragrance experience presented by LEIƏR Fragrances × Candleporium Fragrance House.

Together, these partnerships broaden the Atlanta Fashion Week experience beyond a single venue or format, connecting audiences to fashion through art, philanthropy, beauty, fragrance, retail, nightlife, and community.

“Our Citywide Partners represent what makes Atlanta’s creative community so dynamic,” said Watts. “There are incredible people and organizations creating meaningful experiences throughout this city. Atlanta Fashion Week should be a platform that connects those communities, amplifies their work, and gives people a reason to experience Atlanta through fashion.”

Citywide Partnership Events are independently produced and included within the ATLFW calendar as part of the platform’s commitment to supporting and amplifying Atlanta’s broader fashion and creative ecosystem. Events designated as Official ATLFW Events are produced or presented by Atlanta Fashion Week.

The complete and continually updated schedule of Official ATLFW Events and

Citywide Partnership Events is available at AtlantaFashionWeek.co.

DISCOVERY. CULTURE. COMMERCE.

Atlanta Fashion Week is building a year-round platform at the intersection of discovery, culture, and commerce.

Through designer development, cultural programming, retail partnerships, immersive experiences, and storytelling, ATLFW creates pathways for emerging talent while connecting Atlanta’s creative community with audiences, brands, and opportunities.

From intimate industry celebrations and immersive designer presentations to retail experiences and independently produced events throughout the city, ATLFW 2026 invites Atlanta—and the world—to experience the city’s fashion culture beyond the runway.

Atlanta Fashion Week 2026 takes place September 30–October 4, 2026.

The complete schedule, event information and updates are available at AtlantaFashionWeek.co.

ABOUT ATLANTA FASHION WEEK

Atlanta Fashion Week is a year-round institution advancing fashion through culture, commerce, and creative innovation. ATLFW exists to discover, develop and elevate the next generation of designers, brands and creative leaders while positioning Atlanta as one of the world’s influential fashion cities.

More than a week on the calendar, ATLFW creates pathways for designers to build sustainable businesses and reach new audiences through designer development, retail partnerships, cultural programming, storytelling, and immersive experiences. By connecting creativity with commerce, Atlanta Fashion Week works to ensure talent is supported, culture is amplified and Atlanta’s fashion ecosystem continues to grow.

Atlanta Fashion Week is owned and produced by RAGTRADE ATLANTA.

Event Assets: https://10squared.smugmug.com/ATLFW-2026 

MEDIA CONTACT

Atlanta Fashion Weekpress@10squaredagency.com678-637-0982

ATLANTA FASHION WEEK 2026September 30–October 4, 2026

Powered by BMW

Supported by Bloomingdale’s, DIOR with Bloomingdale’s, Rémy Martin, Atlantic Station, Elaine Sterling Institute, Higher Ground Events and Carlton Lee Studios