SYDNEY – The show will go on in Australia – for one year at least. 

The Australian Fashion Council said it will assume management of Australian Fashion Week’s resort 2026 collections showcase, following last week’s announcement by IMG that it is terminating its Australian fashion events business. 

On Monday, following a call to action from the AFC, 70 members of the Australian fashion industry gathered in front of the Sydney Opera House to announce that the resort week would proceed as planned in Sydney in May 2025, governed by the AFC and with the continued support of the New South Wales Government. The group, which included designers, fashion executives, manufacturers, editors, publicists, model agents and models, was joined by NSW Minister for the Arts, Music and the Night Time Economy John Graham and Sarah Kaine, a member of the NSW Legislative Council.

A working group is being assembled to strategize how the 2025 event will operate. A decentralized schedule of presentations staged at venues across the city is on the cards, which would be a departure from the event’s traditional central show hub format. Originally staged at Fox Studios Australia when AFW was launched by Simon Lock in 1996, the event later moved to the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay. Carriageworks in the inner Sydney suburb of Eveleigh has been AFW’s home since 2013.  

“As the representative voice of Australia’s fashion and textile sector, the AFC has the insight, commitment, and industry focus to lead [an] Australian Fashion Week that truly reflects the strength, resilience, and creativity of our industry,” AFC chief executive officer Jaana Quaintance-James said in a statement. “Our vision is to create an event that not only celebrates our incredible talent but also positions Australian fashion as a global leader, delivering meaningful economic and social benefits for our industry and beyond.” 

Alex Schuman, chief executive officer of the Carla Zampatti brand, added: “Having a not-for-profit organize Australian Fashion Week will be a game-changer and it’s how other successful fashion weeks like Milan and Paris operate. This shift is about putting the needs of our industry first and ensuring that AFW continues to be a global launchpad for both emerging and established designers.” 

IMG’s last Australian fashion event will be the 2024 Australian Fashion Laureate awards, which are due to proceed as planned this Thursday at the Bennelong restaurant inside the Sydney Opera House. 

The company’s local talent management division and IMG Models Sydney will continue to operate in this market, unaffected by the decision.