01 / Essential answer
When was London Fashion Week AW26?
London Fashion Week AW26 ran 19–23 February 2026. Shows included Burberry, Simone Rocha, Erdem and Richard Quinn. Venues, cast and beauty teams vary by house.
| Dates | 19–23 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| City | London, United Kingdom |
| Venue | London · venues vary by designer |
| Season | AW26 |
| Status | Finished (as of ) |
| Verified casting | 1 walk across 1 house |
02 / History
A car park in Kensington
London Fashion Week began modestly: its first edition, staged by the newly formed British Fashion Council in February/March 1984, was held in a marquee erected in the car park of the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington. Fifteen catwalk shows made up the inaugural schedule, including Vivienne Westwood, David Fielden, Ghost and Betty Jackson — a small roster compared to the hundreds of designers the week hosts today.
Publicist Lynne Franks is widely credited with helping generate the idea of consolidating London’s previously scattered individual designer shows into one coordinated, scheduled week, giving international press and buyers a single reason to visit the city each season.
03 / History
Finding a home
For much of its history, London Fashion Week has been defined as much by its search for a permanent venue as by its shows. It moved to the Duke of York’s Barracks on King’s Road in September 1984, relocated to the larger Olympia London in March 1986, and shifted to The Ritz Hotel in 1992 — the season at which a young Alexander McQueen showed, shortly after his graduate collection had drawn industry attention.
The week moved again to marquees on the grounds of the Natural History Museum in 1994, then settled at Somerset House from 2009 until September 2015, before its most recent move, to Store Studios at 180 Strand, in February 2017.
04 / History
Setting industry standards
In September 2018, London became the first major global fashion week to be fur-free, a policy shift by the British Fashion Council that put pressure on other fashion capitals to follow. The week today showcases more than 250 designers to over 5,000 press and buyers each season, with estimated orders placed during the week exceeding £100 million.
05 / This edition
The 2026 season
The British Fashion Council’s provisional Fall/Winter 2026 schedule ran 19–23 February 2026, with 38 shows and 12 presentations. The season was notable for the scheduled returns of two houses with deep ties to London’s fashion history, Temperley London and Julien Macdonald, alongside anchor names including Burberry, Simone Rocha, Erdem and Richard Quinn.
06 / At a glance
Quick facts.
- —First staged in February/March 1984 in a marquee in the Commonwealth Institute car park in Kensington, with 15 catwalk shows including Vivienne Westwood and Betty Jackson
- —Organised from the outset by the British Fashion Council (BFC), with publicist Lynne Franks widely credited with helping originate the idea of a single scheduled week
- —Moved venues repeatedly over four decades: Duke of York’s Barracks (Sept 1984), Olympia (March 1986), The Ritz (1992, where Alexander McQueen showed after his graduate collection), the Natural History Museum grounds (1994), Somerset House (2009–2015), and 180 Strand (from Feb 2017)
- —Became the first major global fashion week to go fur-free, in September 2018
- —Today spans over 250 designers shown to more than 5,000 press and buyers, generating estimated orders above £100 million per season
Facts on this page are drawn from public record and organiser announcements, summarised in our own words. Last reviewed 14 July 2026. Corrections: desk@thecastindex.com.
07 / Faces & finishes
Hair as silhouette
Hair · Season Beauty Index #4
Texture and shape doing more than ornament — wet-slick, soft volume, or deliberate undoing held as a line.
Shape and maintenance are separate choices. Treatments and dry shampoo in this selection do different jobs; neither is a substitute for a styling product with the hold you need.
- Hair credits
- Designer-appointed teams
- Makeup credits
- Designer-appointed artists
08 / Ones to watch
Who broke out at London?
The Cast Index desk is building the casting record for London Fashion Week. New faces from this week will appear here as they are confirmed.
The full Rising board ↗09 / Casting ledger
Who walked at London Fashion Week AW26?
The Cast Index ledger records 1 verified walk at London Fashion Week AW26 by 1 model across 1 house: Burberry. Each walk links its published source. House-level walks only — incomplete by design, never invented.
- Closed Naomi Campbell Burberry