The 17th Budapest Central European Fashion Week is On

More than a fashion week: the 17th Budapest Central European Fashion Week has started.

The 17th Budapest Central European Fashion Week (BCEFW) officially began on February 9, putting Budapest in the spotlight of the Central European fashion industry with accompanying programs taking place throughout the city until February 15, followed by fashion shows at iconic locations in the second half of the week. The series of events, organized by Creative Hungary, will feature designers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Serbia, Armenia, Romania and Ukraine in addition to Hungary: a total of more than 40 Hungarian and international designers will present their 2026–2027 autumn-winter collections.

This year, BCEFW will once again take the world of fashion to the most diverse points of Budapest throughout the week. The accompanying events aim to make the fashion industry accessible and experiential for everyone. The more than fifty programs – including studio visits, workshops and professional discussions – give anyone the opportunity to become part of the experience according to their own interests. Visitors can thus directly learn about the opportunities and values ​​inherent in the industry, from the creative process to conscious consumption. Creative Hungary aims to promote domestic designers, strengthen the international visibility of Hungarian and regional fashion brands, and build long-term, sustainable professional and market relationships between the countries of the region.

Dialogue between generations in two iconic locations

The featured fashion shows will take place between February 13 and 15 at two different, yet mutually interactive locations. On Friday, collections by designers at the beginning of their careers will be presented at the Apollo Gallery. The contemporary art environment provides an appropriate professional framework for the introduction of the new generation. The backdrop for the shows is the monumental works of painter József Gaál, adapted to the seasonal colors, which also ensure the spatial encounter of fashion and fine art. On Saturday and Sunday, the presentations will continue in the iconic spaces of the Museum of Fine Arts, where the collections of mature, market-proven Hungarian and international brands will be in focus. The meeting of the illustrious environment and contemporary fashion emphasizes the long-term vision of BCEFW: a fashion industry thinking based on tradition, yet future-oriented.

Fashion icons, international collaborations and exclusive characters

In addition to the models, stars, muses and exclusive guests will also appear on the catwalk for the duration of each show, including content producer Vanessza Csíki, actress Móni Balsai, content producer and actress Rebeka Kárpáti, actress Réka Tenki, and Janka Végvári, Beauty of Hungary.

Every season, Creative Hungary invites a number of international journalists and retailers to the event to get a first-hand look at the latest regional collections. It also invites long-standing models and fashion industry figures who have contributed to the development of the domestic fashion industry. Among them will be Ganna Smugilova, Myra Cseh, Nelli Tombor, Krisztina Bútor, Andrea Horváth, Edina Kátai-Pál and László Hajas.

The international focus of this season is strengthened by the fact that the professional hair concept of the shows is the internationally renowned French hairstylist Kevin Jacotot, who brings a professional approach representing contemporary trends to Budapest.

Fashion Hub: a creative experience space and professional meeting point

On Saturday and Sunday, the Schickedanz hall on the first floor of the Museum of Fine Arts will host the Fashion Hub, one of the most open, community-focused spaces of the fashion week. Visitors can participate in presentations by young designers, creative workshops, professional and inspirational talks that explore the social role of fashion, generational issues and cultural impacts. The Fashion Hub is also a curated design fair and professional showroom, offering concrete business connections for designers and retailers.

The Budapest Central European Fashion Week is open to both the profession and the general public from February 9-15, and further strengthens Budapest’s role as a culturally and economically relevant creative industry hub in the Central European region. The event simultaneously reflects on current processes in the international fashion industry and the region’s unique creative resources, while creating visible connections between designers, professional decision-makers and market players.

More information about the programs can be found on the official BCEFW website.

Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán