Copenhagen Fashion Week is 20 (yes, really): A lookback at the most memorable moments

This year marks Copenhagen Fashion Week’s 20th anniversary (feel old yet?), a milestone that will no doubt be appropriately celebrated at next week’s autumn/winter '26 edition (the celebrations will continue in August). Widely considered “the fifth fashion week”, CPHFW has solidified itself as a bona fide global player, attracting fashion folk (editors, influencers, creatives, etc) from far and wide to take in its shows, events and unbeatable street style. Under the direction of CEO Cecilie Thorsmark, the bi-annual fashion week has also made its global mark as an industry leader in sustainability practices, changing the game by implementing sustainability benchmarks for all participating brands.

Related: CPHFW AW26: The key brand moves shaping the next edition

We didn’t get here overnight. In fact, it has taken these 20 years of diligently grafting, sticking steadfastly to core beliefs and fostering local talent to become the sort of fashion week that earns worldwide attention. Along the way there were unforgettable moments, some Internet-shaking, some a bit quieter.

Ahead of CPHFW’s 20th anniversary edition, we break down the 13 most major moments at Scandinavia’s biggest fashion week.

Held on a stretch of boardwalk along the waterfront, Ganni’s spring/summer 2023 show exemplified everything that makes CPHFW special; the extraordinary cast (local supermodel Mona Tougaard opened the show), the magic hour light (the weather was really cooperating that day), the stunning central city location (boats passing by stopped to take on the show) and bikes (CPHFW’s preferred mode of transport). For the big finale, the entire cast of models cycled down the runway. It was just one of those goosebump-inducing moments of utter joy that hit just right. Only in Copenhagen.