AFWL 2026 Is Coming — The 16th Edition Begins This Summer

This summer, AFWL returns to London for its 16th edition, and the countdown has just began. Africa Fashion Week London is excited to share this moment first with its community of designers, creatives, partners, supporters, and believers across the world.

For many years, African fashion was described as “the next big thing.” But standing where they are today, that description no longer fits.

African designers are no longer simply entering global markets, they are structuring their place within them. The conversation has evolved. It’s no longer only about the runway, but about sustainability, production, pricing, ownership, and long-term global relevance.

Over the last 16 years, AFWL has grown with this shift. What started as a platform for visibility has become a global fashion ecosystem, one that connects creativity with business, culture with strategy, and talent with opportunity.

As the Founder, Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, puts it:

African fashion has never lacked creativity. What we have worked toward over the last 16 years is structure — helping designers move from visibility to viability, and from applause to longevity.

That belief is shaping AFWL 2026.

This year’s edition places a renewed emphasis on readiness, supporting designers and brands as they prepare for global markets, stronger systems, and sustainable growth. It’s about moving beyond moments to momentum, and beyond exposure to endurance.

Most importantly, AFWL 2026 is not just an event, it’s a collective milestone. It reflects the progress of a community that has shown up, grown together, and insisted that African fashion deserves to be seen, valued, and respected on its own terms.

ABOUT AFRICA FASHION WEEK LONDON

Africa Fashion Week London’s annual catwalk and exhibition event is one of the world’s largest and longest-running showcases of African and African-inspired fashion & design. 

Now in its 15th year, Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) has hosted 3000 emerging and established designers and exhibitors to 75,000 visitors, including buyers, retailers, industry professionals and global media.  Overall, 26 African countries and 67 countries have been represented, including diaspora designers from Brazil, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the Americas. 

Additionally, AFWL has produced 12 third-party events such as the Southbank Centre’s Africa Utopia and Meltdown Festival, The Mayor of London’s Africa on the Square, and The Africa Centre’s Summer Festival. 

Such is the importance of AFWL, that the initiative positively impacts, directly and indirectly, over 5000 individuals annually including SMEs, designers, tailors, textile designers, students, visitors, models, stylists, photographers, journalists, caterers, artists, tech and production staff and lovers of fashion.