Each stand-out moment from Copenhagen Fashion Week’s SS26 edition, examined
Despite a forecast of rain, the sun shone for Copenhagen Fashion Week – happily so, considering that the Danish capital’s feel-good vibes are one of the reasons that international press and buyers flock to the city every August, despite it being prime vacation season.
Of course, fashion is the primary draw: both when it comes to the Scandi street-style set’s penchant for eclectic dressing, and the talent on display on the runway. It was a jam-packed schedule this season, featuring returning designers like Cecilie Bahnsen and Anne Sofie Madsen, and plenty of new names to watch out for.
Below, see seven moments you might have missed from Copenhagen Fashion Week’s spring/summer 2026 edition.
Cecilie Bahnsen made a triumphant return
For many people, the images of Cecilie Bahnsen’s pastel puff-sleeved dresses floating down a Copenhagen pier was the first time that CPHFW first entered their consciousness. So, it’s no surprise that the designer’s first show in Copenhagen for five years – marking her brand’s 10th anniversary – was the most hotly anticipated of the week. It didn’t disappoint: for the occasion, Bahnsen reworked a series of designs from her archive in all-white (perfect for brides!), all made using pre-existing materials, with the one-off pieces already available to buy from her new Copenhagen store.
Anne Sofie Madsen spring/summer 2026. . Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com
It was a season of comebacks
Bahnsen was by no means the only designer returning to the schedule this season. Anne Sofie Madsen, who put her namesake brand on hiatus in 2018 – returned with a much-buzzed about show featuring rat bags, made in collaboration with Danish artist Esben Weile Kjær. Meanwhile, Freya Dalsjø, who held her first show in Copenhagen for six years, delivered an exquisite collection that celebrated craftsmanship, from beautifully draped white silk dresses to woven leather basket tops inspired by Japanese artists Honda Shoryu and Fujitsuka Shosei.
Caro Editions spring/summer 2026.
Caro Editions sparked a Mulberry revival
One of the most fun shows of the week came from Caro Editions, held under the bridge where the brand’s founder Caroline Bille Brahe married her husband, chef Frederik, back in 2018. The Scandi fashion community turned out in full force to cheer on the former model, who turned to a British brand for her accessories this season, putting her own stamp on a series of pre-loved and new-season Mulberry bags. With a number of showgoers spotted carrying vintage Roxanne bags in the Danish capital, it seems the Mulberry revival is officially on.
Photo: James Cochrane
New talent made a mark
There were a number of debuts on the Copenhagen schedule this season, including Rave RVW (who previously showed in Milan) and Martin Quad. One of the most exciting additions to this season’s line-up, though, was Zalando Visionary Award winner Iamisigo, which put a spotlight on traditional African craft techniques via its upcycled creations.
Baum und Pferdgarten spring/summer 2026.
Scandi girls are horse girls, too
From Bella Hadid to Kendall Jenner, there’s no shortage of horse girls in fashion – and it seems the same can be said for Copenhagen. First, The Garment opted to hold its spring/summer 2026 show at the royal stables at Christiansborg Palace. Then, Baum und Pferdgarten took guests to the old stables at Charlottenlund racetrack, where we were greeted by two ponies and a number of horses. The equestrian theme translated into the clothes, including racing silk-inspired bomber jackets and jockey-style hats.
Copenhagen is doubling down on sustainability
Since 2020, Copenhagen Fashion Week has established itself as a leader in the sustainability space by introducing a set of minimum requirements that all brands on the schedule have to adhere to. In recent months, the fashion week has been accused of greenwashing – something that CEO Cecilie Thorsmark strongly refutes. “We stand by our framework,” she said in her speech during this week’s opening ceremony. “The fear of criticism should never be a barrier to change.”
A model staging a protest at the Marimekko spring/summer 2026 show. Photo: Launchmetrics.com/spotlight
Not every conversation was about fashion
Support for Palestine was visibly present throughout the week, with a number of guests – including Alana Hadid – wearing keffiyehs while attending shows. One of the biggest talking points of the week came when model Jura Indexspring walked down the Marimekko runway holding a Palestine flag that read: “Act Now Against Genocide.”
Originally posted on British Vogue