By Amber R in Fashion — 18 Oct 2026

Melbourne Fashion Week 2026: What's On, What's Free and What to Book

Opening night at the NGV, a Westwood bridal moment, Australian labels from ganbu marra to the student show, and the free runways worth standing for in the city.

Vivienne Westwood bridal Made to Order 2026. Image: Vivienne Westwood

Melbourne Fashion Week 2026 runs from 19th Oct 26 to 25th Oct 26, and this year the city gets a proper curtain-raiser. Here is what has been announced so far: the shows, the venues, the Australian labels and the free things you can wander into without a ticket.

The theme is Wear the Moment. We like it. It is a nudge to stop saving the good jacket for a special occasion and just wear it on a Tuesday.

Opening night moves into the NGV

The week opens on Monday 19th Oct at the ganbu marra runway at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), from 8pm to 9.30pm. It is the first time Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) has opened at the NGV, which gives the whole week a bit of gallery gravitas even before a single model walks. Tickets are listed from $99 to $199.

The show is styled by Lindyn Rowland, M/FW's First Nations Creative Director. In Woi Wurrung, ganbu marra means "one mob", and the lineup is all First Nations designers: Atyene Clothing, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Ebony Noire, Kaninda, Marnin Studio, OUT OF HAND x Lisa Waup, Rowland Vision, Saretta The Label, Van Ermel Scherer and Yapa Mali.

Four models in denim looks posing together in a group — ganbu marra runway. Image: Melbourne Fashion Week

The program

After the opening night the program then spreads across the city. Here is the announced run and the Australian labels to keep an eye on.

Cult Status, Wednesday 21st Oct 26. Held at the Ian Potter Queens Hall in the State Library Victoria, with labels including Club Venus, Gotham, Perple and Toile Studios.

The Edit, Thursday 22nd Oct 26. At Younghusband in Kensington at 8pm, with Bianca Spender, CLEA, Oroton, Asiyam and Atoir among the names. Tickets are listed from $79 to $299. Vivienne Westwood also appears on the designer list, presented by Raffaele Ciuca (more on that below).

A model in a pale blue dress with a long necklace walking a runway — The Edit runway. Image: Melbourne Fashion Week

Student Collections, Friday 23rd Oct 26. Also at Younghusband, at 8pm, with graduates and students from Box Hill Institute, LCI Melbourne, RMIT and Whitehouse Institute of Design. This year's student award winner is celebrated on the night, and the theme is The Swatch, treating a humble fabric swatch as the starting point for new ideas. It is the show to watch if you like spotting the names before everyone else does. Tickets are listed from $69 to $209.

A model in a magenta textured gown and boots on a runway — Student Collections runway. Image: Melbourne Fashion Week

Wear the Moment, Sunday 25th Oct 26. The closing runway is at 1 Hotel Melbourne in Docklands, with sessions at 6pm and 8.30pm, styled by Karinda Mutabazi and mixing runway with live performance and music. Designers include Grace Lillian Lee, Lucinda Babi and Corde Couture. Tickets are listed from $79 to $299.

The Vivienne Westwood bridal moment

Bridal gets its own spotlight. The free Love Letters capsule at the Melbourne Town Hall forecourt shows luxury bridal wear from Vivienne Westwood, Vera Wang Bride, Steven Khalil, Nicole + Felicia and Elysian Bridal. It ties in with the 70th anniversary of the House of Raffaele Ciuca, which also has a ticketed luxury bridal runway at the Immigration Museum on Friday 23rd Oct 26. The official listings do not name Westwood for that runway, but the label is listed on The Edit, so it is worth knowing where to look.

The free stuff worth your time

You do not need a ticket to get a good look at the week. The two City Square runways on Saturday 24th Oct 26 are free, with no booking, and standing room only. Street Style is at 2pm with búl, Clothing The Gaps, ELK the Label, gammin threads, gorman, HoMie, Kuwaii, NTV Shop and Salomon. After Hours is at 4pm with Anna Thomas, Foemina, Godwin Charli, Knickerbocker, Mr. Cuff, NGALI, Scotch & Soda and TOJHÀ. Each runs about 30 minutes, so you could catch both with a coffee in between.

A model walks a runway past a front row audience beneath M/FW signage — City Square runway. Image: Melbourne Fashion Week

Our other picks are the Fashion Market at Collins Square on Wednesday 21st Oct 26 and Thursday 22nd Oct 26, from 10am to 3pm, with more than 25 stalls of handmade bags, jewellery and headpieces. It is an easy lunch-break detour if you work in the city. The Fashion Capsules are also free across Melbourne until 25th Oct 26, including Sisterhood and Spear Grass at City Square, Sustainable City at 1 Hotel Melbourne and Fashion Futures at Collins Square.

Tickets and session times are on the official M/FW site, which is the place to confirm anything before you go.

At a glance

Dates: 19th Oct 26 to 25th Oct 26, theme Wear the Moment
Opening night: ganbu marra at the NGV, 19th Oct 26, 8pm, tickets from $99 to $199
The Edit: 22nd Oct 26, Younghusband, tickets from $79 to $299
Student Collections: 23rd Oct 26, Younghusband, tickets from $69 to $209
Closing runway: 25th Oct 26, 1 Hotel Melbourne, tickets from $79 to $299
Free: City Square runways on 24th Oct 26, Fashion Market on 21st and 22nd Oct 26, Fashion Capsules including Love Letters

Verdict: If you only do one thing, stand at City Square on 24th Oct 26 for two free runways. If you want the full occasion, the NGV opening night is the one that feels like an event.

Note: As this this is a live event, make sure you are checking the schedule closer to the day / time just incase something changes.