Day 1 of Australian Fashion Week 2026, presented by Shark Beauty, opened under unusually cooperative skies. A light shower at Carla Zampatti aside, the rain held off, giving way to a sun-drenched spectacle.
The Museum of Contemporary Art’s facade glowed beneath a brilliant blue sky—a fitting backdrop for the five-day celebration of Australian fashion.
This year, AFW is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marked by a return to the MCA in Circular Quay after 13 years at Carriageworks. The mood was electric as fashion insiders, creatives, and influencers gathered, eagerly awaiting the Resort 27 presentations.
The day began with a Welcome to Country and performance, before Colleen Tighe Johnson unveiled her Buluuy Mirrii collection, followed by Van Ermel Scherer.
The show calendar is slated to run from 11–15 May 2026, with shows this year from brands like Aje, Beare Park, Maticevski, and L’IDEE, alongside beloved designers including Alix Higgins, Nagnata, and Courtney Zheng.
The street style set offered a vivid counterpoint to the early grey we saw this morning, a burst of colour that seemed to lift the mood. Vermillion blousons, metallic Margiela tabis, and violet stockings punctuated the crowd, while suiting, a perennial favourite, appeared in both relaxed and sharply tailored forms.
Casual dressing received an elevated treatment, from double denim to refined athleisure, hinting at a local style set comfortable with both polish and comfort.
Here, we round up the standout street style from day one of Australian Fashion Week 2026.
DAY 5
DAY FOUR
DAY THREE
Day 3
Day 3
Day 3
DAY TWO
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
DAY ONE
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Day 1
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
