The trends of twenty years of Copenhagen Fashion Week
2026 marks a special moment for Copenhagen Fashion Week. The fashion week in Copenhagen celebrates its 20th anniversary and returns this season with 26 Scandinavian brands. Established names and emerging talent, all come together in a programme known for its focus on creativity and sustainability.
Fashion event Copenhagen Fashion Week
What once began as a regional fashion event has grown into an influential moment within the international fashion world. Copenhagen Fashion Week is now widely regarded as a fifth fashion capital, alongside Paris, Milan, London and New York. The twentieth edition of Copenhagen Fashion Week will take place from 27 to 30 January 2026.
Pepper Luxury Vintage during Copenhagen Fashion Week
Among the many looks and trends, vintage designer bags from Pepper Luxury Vintage were also visible during Copenhagen Fashion Week. The items were worn by, among others, ELLE, Tess V, Cosmopolitan and Marisa Manuele.
Fashion is not only about what is new, but about how items are worn and reinterpreted. Pepper Luxury Vintage aligns with the direction in which the fashion week is moving, where sustainable items with a longer lifespan are playing an increasingly important role.
Photograph: @mariarogersdotterphoto
Sustainability as a starting point for Fashion Week
Copenhagen Fashion Week continues to be the greenest fashion week in the world. All participating brands meet the latest Sustainability Requirements, consisting of 19 minimum standards. These include reducing CO₂ emissions, transparency within the production chain and limiting the use of single-use plastics.
New and returning names
Alongside well-known labels such as Baum und Pferdgarten, Holzweiler and Sunflower, the programme also featured notable returning designers and debutants. Anne Sofie Madsen opened the week with her second year in the NewTalent programme, while Paolina Russo presented her work for the first time within the official sustainability framework.
Photograph: @mariarogersdotterphoto
What are the trends of Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26?
Although the fashion trends for spring and summer 2026 had already been presented earlier, the fashion world in Copenhagen was looking ahead to autumn and winter. The FW26 shows at Copenhagen Fashion Week mainly offered inspiration for the colder months. The fashion week is known for its balance between street style and expressive catwalk looks, and this season was no exception.
Leg warmers return in FW26
Leg warmers were one of the most frequently spotted items during Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26. They appeared in soft materials and muted tones, styled over ballerinas with socks or paired with high boots and a faux fur coat.
Accessories define the looks
Due to the wintery conditions, accessories played a major role during Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26. Faux fur was visible everywhere, from oversized coats to collars, scarves and voluminous hats and beanies. Many of these items can often already be found in existing or vintage wardrobes.
Looking back at 20 years of Copenhagen Fashion Week
Twenty years of Copenhagen Fashion Week show how a fashion event evolves over time. What began as a regional platform has grown into an international fashion week. Take a look back at twenty years of Copenhagen Fashion Week.
2006
The first edition of Copenhagen Fashion Week takes place in 2006. The fashion week is held for the first time, laying the foundation for what would later grow into an international fashion event.
Photo: Helle Moos
2013
In 2013, Vibskov challenges the idea of Scandinavian minimalism. With bold shapes, colour and performance, he shows how art and fashion come together on the catwalk of Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Photo: fashionstudiomagazine.com
2017
In 2017, Copenhagen Fashion Week reaches a broader audience with Ganni. The collections feel young and instantly recognisable. Street style becomes part of the fashion week’s success.
Photo: CPHFW
2020
In 2020, Copenhagen Fashion Week becomes the first major fashion week to introduce mandatory sustainability criteria for participating brands. With a clear action plan, sustainability becomes a permanent part of the programme, a step that gains international attention.
Photo: wwd.com
2023
In 2023, sustainability is further integrated into the Copenhagen Fashion Week programme. Initiatives such as the Sustainability Award make impact and collaboration a visible part of the event.
Photo: wwd.com
2026
In 2026, Copenhagen Fashion Week celebrates its twentieth anniversary. The fashion week looks back on its development from a local platform to an international fashion week, with sustainability and innovation now firmly embedded in the programme.
Photo: Maria Rogersdotter