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Seoul Fashion Week vs Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo
The short answer
Seoul Fashion Week is a city-government event, run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government from Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo is run by the Japan Fashion Week Organization, mainly at Shibuya Hikarie. Both are held twice a year, overlap in early September, and offer public ticket draws and livestreams.
At a glance
Seoul vs Tokyo Fashion Week, side by side
| Compared | Seoul Fashion Week | Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Organiser | Seoul Metropolitan Government; Wikipedia credits the Seoul Design Foundation, under the city government, with running it | Japan Fashion Week Organization (JFWO), established in 2005 |
| Started | 2000; the city called 2026 the week’s 26th anniversary | Run by JFWO, which was set up in 2005 |
| Latest dates | 3–8 February 2026 (F/W) and 1–6 September 2026 (SS27) | 31 August–5 September 2026 (SS27); next 15–20 March 2027 (AW27) |
| Main venue | Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), with Lotte World Tower added for SS27 | Shibuya Hikarie, plus other venues |
| Size, SS27 | 17 designer runways and 8 presentations at DDP, with 97 brands in the trade show | 27 collections: 24 official designer shows and 3 partnership shows, with 9 international participants |
| Public access, SS27 | Ticket draw on the official Instagram (two per winner), a public outdoor runway and YouTube livestreams | Ticket lotteries with partners, public side events and 16 shows streamed on YouTube |
Who organises Seoul and Tokyo Fashion Week?
Seoul Fashion Week is a public event. The Seoul Metropolitan Government says it launched the week in 2000 and runs it as a global fashion business event that connects designers with buyers and media; the official site lists the city government as organiser. Wikipedia says the Seoul Design Foundation runs it on the city’s behalf.
Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo is run by the Japan Fashion Week Organization (JFWO), established in 2005 to strengthen the international competitiveness of Japan’s textile and fashion industries and to make Tokyo a centre of fashion trends in Asia.
When are Seoul and Tokyo Fashion Week held?
Both run twice a year and overlap in early September. For SS27, Tokyo ran 31 August–5 September 2026 and Seoul 1–6 September 2026. Seoul’s autumn/winter edition ran 3–8 February 2026, while JFWO has set 15–20 March 2027 for Tokyo’s next week.
Live dates for both, and for other weeks in the region, are on our Asian fashion weeks hub, with more detail in the Seoul guide and the Tokyo guide.
Which is bigger, Seoul or Tokyo Fashion Week?
On the organisers’ own SS27 counts they are close. Tokyo had 27 collections: 24 official designer shows, four of them by first-time participants, and three partnership shows, with nine international participants. Seoul staged 17 designer runways and eight presentations at DDP, plus a trade show of 97 brands. The two count differently, so treat the comparison as rough.
For the labels behind the shows, see Korean designers to know and Japanese designers to know.
Can the public attend Seoul or Tokyo Fashion Week?
Partly, through the organisers’ own channels. For SS27 the Seoul Metropolitan Government gave away show tickets through the official Instagram account, two per winner, staged a public outdoor runway at Lotte World Tower in Jamsil and livestreamed major shows on the official YouTube channel.
Tokyo ran ticket lotteries with partners, including 86 seats for six shows at Shibuya Hikarie and an invitation draw for WWDJAPAN members, held public side events and streamed selected shows on YouTube. Tickets offered by anyone else are not official.
Verdict
Which should you choose?
Choose Seoul Fashion Week if
Choose Seoul for a city-backed week with a large trade show for Korean labels and a public programme, in early February and early September.
Choose Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo if
Choose Tokyo for an industry-run week centred on Shibuya Hikarie, with Japanese and international designers on one official schedule, in March and at the turn of August and September.
Read next
More on this on The Cast Index
Quick answers
Related questions
When is the next Tokyo Fashion Week?
- The Japan Fashion Week Organization has set Monday 15 to Saturday 20 March 2027 for Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo 2027 A/W. Check the official site for the schedule and venues.
How do I get Seoul Fashion Week tickets?
- Through the city’s own channels. For SS27 the Seoul Metropolitan Government ran a ticket draw on the official Instagram account, @seoulfashionweek_official, with two tickets per winner, and streamed major shows on YouTube. Do not buy from resellers.
Who organises Seoul Fashion Week?
- The Seoul Metropolitan Government, which launched the week in 2000 and describes it as a city-run fashion business event. Wikipedia credits the Seoul Design Foundation, working under the city government, with running it.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week announcement (21 August 2026) checked 22 October 2026
- Seoul Metropolitan Government media hub — 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week (in Korean) checked 22 October 2026
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2026 F/W Seoul Fashion Week, 3–8 February 2026 (in Korean) checked 22 October 2026
- Seoul Fashion Week — official site checked 22 October 2026
- Seoul Fashion Week — Wikipedia (organiser) checked 22 October 2026
- JFWO — About Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO checked 22 October 2026
- JFWO — 2027 S/S season close (9 September 2026) checked 22 October 2026
- JFWO — 2027 S/S public programme, lotteries and livestreams checked 22 October 2026
- JFWO — Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO official site (2027 A/W dates) checked 22 October 2026
Spotted something out of date? Send a correction with a link to the record. This page summarises public sources and is not legal, medical or financial advice.
Fashion weeks