A lot has changed since Copenhagen Fashion Week first began 20 years ago – with the event being not only much smaller in scale, but also more commercially focused. While Scandi darlings like Ganni and Cecilie Bahnsen may now have flown the nest for Paris, the fashion week has a much more international feel – attracting talent from around the world, from Paolina Russo to Nazzal Studio. Indeed, it’s the younger designers, such as Nicklas Skovgaard, Rave Review and Caro Editions, that are proving to be the real draw. Meanwhile, sustainability is firmly on the agenda these days, thanks to CPHFW’s minimum requirements that all brands must now adhere to.
“I feel incredibly proud of the impact Copenhagen has made,” Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, tells Vogue. “Over the years, we’ve shown that a fashion week can celebrate strong design, craftsmanship and culture, while also setting clear expectations around how fashion operates. That combination has become a defining characteristic of Copenhagen Fashion Week and something we increasingly see resonating internationally."
Following a celebratory autumn/winter 2026 edition, see all the moments you might have missed from Copenhagen Fashion Week this season.
Ella Emhoff took to the catwalk for Paolina Russo
In a sign of Copenhagen Fashion Week’s growing international status, New York creative Ella Emhoff opened London-based brand Paolina Russo’s buzzy show, held in the French embassy (the brand’s co-founder, Lucile Guilmard, is Paris born and bred), while French singer Oklou gave a live performance. Inspired by the excitement Russo and Guilmard felt going on school trips as kids, the collection offered a preppier take on the Paolina Russo girl – two and a half years after the brand held their debut show in the Danish capital as winners of the Zalando Visionary Award.
Stranger Things’s Linnea Berthelsen made a cameo at Henrik Vibskov
Another catwalk cameo came via Stranger Things’s Linnea Berthelsen, who played Kali, or Eight, in the hit Netflix show. The Danish actress opened Henrik Vibskov’s 25th anniversary show, wearing an amphibian print jumper over a white shirt, before later appearing on the front row at Skall Studio.
Anne Sofie Madsen unveiled a new Ugg collab
One of the funnest shows of the season came via Anne Sofie Madsen, who enlisted local band Wedding to add some energy to proceedings. The veteran designer, who previously worked under John Galliano at Dior and at Alexander McQueen, unveiled a new Ugg collaboration, featuring strappy boots that harked back to Vivienne Westwood’s famous Pirate style; punky spray-printed versions; and a scary-looking spiked design (“I need those for the Tube,” my seatmate joked.)
It was a homecoming for Holzweiler
Norwegian brand Holzweiler returned to Copenhagen this season in a new Homecoming Slot, after two years away, during which time they staged two shows at London Fashion Week. Packing out a former seaplane hangar in the east of the city, there was a celebratory mood to the show, which delivered wearable designs with a twist – from leather bomber jackets to striped polo tops.
Nazzal Studio became the first Palestinian brand to show on schedule
Since launching Nazzal Studio while still at university, 23-year-old Palestinian designer Sylwia Nazzal has gone from strength to strength, winning Fashion Trust Arabia’s Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award back in 2024. This season, Nazzal made her debut on the CPHFW schedule via a presentation at The David Collection, a city-centre museum featuring a large collection of Islamic art. Collaborating with the Jordanian-Filipino artist Jad Maq, the brand’s autumn/winter 2026 collection entitled Al-Najah, or Survival, featured Bedouin face tattoos and Palestinian and Jordanian tatreez on leather and latex veils and robes, as well as macramé pieces handcrafted by Palestinian refugees.
Upcycling has become the norm
Since CPHFW implemented its minimum sustainability requirements for all on-schedule brands in 2023, eco-minded practices have become the norm in the Danish capital. This was particularly notable when it came to upcycling this season, from Rave Review’s poufy tops and drop-waist skirts made from leftover upholstery fabrics to Bonnetje’s reworked men’s shirts and the reclaimed leather, wool and lace at Nicklas Skovgaard. Meanwhile, at Caro Edition’s joyful show at Apollo Bar, models danced down the catwalk in vintage-inspired dresses made from deadstock fabric.
