Shanghai Fashion Week has unveiled the official schedule for the Autumn/Winter 2026 season, set to open on March 25 under the theme “Design Ahead, Fashion Ascends”, highlighting the steady evolution of Chinese fashion and the central role of design in driving industry growth. The Xintiandi Main Tent will once again serve as the core venue, hosting a strong lineup of established Chinese brands, with HPLY opening the week and EP YAYING closing the official runway calendar.
Leading independent designers remain a key presence this season, with labels such as Feng Chen Wang, 8ON8, Comme Moi, Xuzhi and Susan Fang presenting their latest collections alongside a new generation of emerging talents. Across the city, the official runway program continues to expand with parallel platforms including LABELHOOD: the event, taking place on YONGYUAN RD in Jing’an District, will showcase emerging design talents including Oude Waag, WMWM, Garcon by Gcogcn, Ao Yes, Yirantian, Markgong, and Shushu/Tong.
Among the highlights of the week, Maison Margiela will stage the global debut of its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection on April 1, followed by a special Artisanal exhibition, reinforcing the growing international relevance of the Shanghai platform. The calendar also reflects increasing global participation, with brands from Europe, the United States and across Asia joining Chinese designers in seeking new opportunities within the local market.
The Fabrique x Vera Wang exclusive collaborative collection Very Vera · Very Me will be presented through a limited-time pop-up at HKRI Taikoo Hui from March 26thto April 8th. The Apple 50th Anniversary Special Showcase will also take place during Shanghai Fashion Week, celebrating five decades of visionary thinking and pioneering innovation.
Sportswear and lifestyle projects will also play a role in this season’s program. Adidas Originals will present OPEN HAUS from March 26 to 29 on Yong Fu Road, showcasing new footwear concepts developed by the brand’s Shanghai Creative Center together with archive pieces and upcoming releases, underlining the connection between street culture, design and innovation.
Mercedes-Benz returns as Official Designated Partner of Shanghai Fashion Week, marking several milestones for the brand, including its 140th anniversary, 30 years of involvement in fashion and 40 years in the Chinese market. To celebrate the occasion, the company will launch the special pop-up project CRUSH ON WINGS: Mercedes-Benz x AW2026 SHFW, creating a dialogue between automotive design and fashion through installations and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
This season will also see the debut of the NEW WAVE FASHION AWARDS, organized by the Shanghai Fashion Designers Association, with the final competition taking place during the week. Six finalist designers will create independent creative spaces across major city landmarks – including Xintiandi Style II, House of H&M, K11 Art Mall, Somekh Building, Gibb, Livingston & Co. Building, and Film Park. Through multidimensional presentations combining product design, aesthetics, spatial design, narrative, and brand identity, the finalists will showcase fully developed creative systems to both an international professional jury and a public jury. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony on March 30th.
Beyond the runway, the commercial side of the fashion week will once again revolve around the citywide network of trade shows and showrooms, with MODE Shanghai Fashion Trade Show, ONTIMESHOW, Notes Shanghai, and a wide range of independent showrooms acting as the central hub connecting brands, buyers and industry professionals, further strengthening Shanghai’s position as one of Asia’s leading fashion capitals.
Shanghai Fashion Week FW 26-27
