August 2026 - Following the announcement of Fashion Britain earlier this month, the British Fashion Council unveils a nationwide programme of more than 1,000 events across Bristol, Dundee, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle, marking the next phase of its landmark initiative to decentralise British fashion.
Developed as part of the BFC's Strategy 2030: Access, Creativity and Growth, Fashion Britain will celebrate the breadth of British creativity through a series of public designer panels, cultural activations, retail experiences, exhibitions and live performances, celebrating the wealth of talent that has emerged across the UK.
The programme brings together leading cultural institutions, galleries and creative organisations across the UK, with flagship events taking place at V&A Dundee, The National Gallery (London), Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (Newcastle Gateshead), Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool), Manchester Art Gallery, M Shed (Bristol) and East Bank (London). From exhibitions and immersive cultural experiences to collaborations with The Warehouse Project (Manchester) in celebration of their 20th anniversary, Chelsea Arts Festival (London) and The Music is Black Festival, Black to the Future (London), Fashion Britain celebrates the intersection of fashion, art, music and culture in every host city.
The programme also champions emerging talent through initiatives such as the Future Heritage creative student programme and showcase, a collaboration between Eldon Square, Newcastle College and Fenwick and Beyond the Rail by All Over the Shop, an immersive fashion experience celebrating Liverpool’s independent fashion community and the people behind it.
Laura Weir, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council: "I am incredibly excited for the launch of Fashion Britain this September. British fashion has always been shaped by people - their local identities, global perspectives, creative disciplines and the communities that shape culture from the ground up. It’s vital that we recognise, celebrate and invest in talent wherever it exists across the UK. Fashion Britain is about decentralising fashion, by creating stronger pathways for creativity, opportunity and growth in every part of the country. That is why we are collaborating with leading cultural institutions alongside over 100 of our designer members to build a stronger, more connected future for British fashion."
British designers are at the heart of Fashion Britain and will lead a series of exclusive activations - from immersive Westfield experiences curated by Tolu Coker, Priya Ahluwalia and Charles Jeffrey to Saul Nash's Masquerade in Residence, alongside further events from Rejina Pyo, JW Anderson, Simone Rocha and more.
Also launching this September, the BFC x ELLE UK Nationwide Designer Panel series will feature panelists including designers and brands Aitor Throup, Barbour, Charles Jeffrey, Clio Peppiatt, Genevieve Devine, J.L-A.L, Luke Derrick, Nicholas Daley, Patrick McDowell, Saul Nash and Talia Byre.
Kenya Hunt, Editor in Chief, ELLE UK: “ELLE UK is committed to championing British talent, and we’re extremely excited to partner with the British Fashion Council on the National Designer Panel series. By staging conversations with leading designers who have strong ties to each city, we aim to celebrate the breadth of creativity across the UK and inspire the next generation who will help shape the future of the industry.”
Fashion Britain ultimately aims to strengthen local creative economies, inspire and develop the next generation of fashion talent, and create lasting pathways for designers and creatives to build sustainable careers within their own cities, ensuring the economic and cultural impact of British fashion is felt across the UK. If you are a designer, cultural institution, business or creative interested in participating in Fashion Britain please contact fashionbritain@britishfashioncouncil.com.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS (with more to be announced)
MANCHESTER
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BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at Manchester Art Gallery featuring Aitor Throup, moderated by Naomi Pike, Commissioning Editor, ELLE UK
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BFC x 20 years of The Warehouse Project pub quiz and music showcase
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The House of Fashion at The Trafford Centre, a curated week of styling tips, seasonal inspiration and behind-the-scenes exclusives
EDINBURGH & DUNDEE
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BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at V&A Dundee featuring Nicholas Daley and Charles Jeffrey, moderated by Avril Mair, Fashion, Watches and Jewellery Director, ELLE UK
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Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show exhibition at V&A Dundee
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St James Quarter, which will be rebranded as Westfield St James Quarter this September, partners with Charles Jeffrey to create an immersive listening rooms experience with live music, designer talks, workshops, archive displays, and exclusive retail pop-ups
LIVERPOOL
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BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at Walker Art Gallery featuring Patrick McDowell and Talia Byre, moderated by Tamison O’Connor, Fashion Features Director, ELLE UK
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Liverpool ONE will host in-store activations, exclusive offers, competitions and interactive experiences. The centre will also launch a competition giving one talented local artist the opportunity to design a fashion-inspired wrap for the iconic Liverpool sign on Thomas Steers Way
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Beyond the Rail by All Over the Shop, an immersive fashion experience celebrating Liverpool’s independent fashion community and the people behind it
NEWCASTLE
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BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art featuring Genevieve Devine and Ian Bergin, Director of Menswear, Barbour, moderated by Chiara Wilkinson, Deputy Multiplatform Editor, ELLE UK
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Newcastle Future Heritage student showcase at Grainger Market in partnership with Newcastle Council, Eldon Square, Newcastle College and Fenwick
BRISTOL
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BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at M Shed featuring J.L-A.L’s Jean-Luc Ambridge Lavelle, moderated by Lena De Casparis, Deputy Editor, ELLE UK
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Martin Parr Foundation street photography competition with guest judge Niall McDiarmid with entries open until 13th September
LONDON
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BFC x ELLE UK National Designer Panel at the National Gallery featuring Saul Nash, Clio Peppiatt and Luke Derrick, moderated by Kenya Hunt, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE UK
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Immersive fashion and music experiences at Westfield London & Westfield Stratford City, curated by Tolu Coker and Priya Ahluwalia
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The Music Is Black Festival at East Bank, Black to the Future, Curated by FLOHIO and The Blues Project.
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Saul Nash's Masquerade in Residence at The Truman Brewery
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The Chelsea Arts Festival will unite the worlds of culture and fashion in a shared celebration of British creative excellence
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Further events from Rejina Pyo, JW Anderson, MAX & Co x Paloma le Friant, Harris Reed x Missoma, Simone Rocha x Harvey Nichols.
NATIONWIDE
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To celebrate Mulberry’s return to London Fashion Week and Christopher Kane’s debut, the brand will livestream the show at its Regent Street and Edinburgh stores on Sunday 20th September
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The Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation will introduce Business by Design Online, a new free digital learning course designed to make fashion knowledge accessible to everyone, launching 1st September
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eBay will run a series of eBay Lives to spotlight the best pre-loved luxury fashion on the platform. Headlining the programme is the return of Endless Runway on Thursday 17th September followed by daily streams at 180 Strand.
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TONI&GUY clients spending £65 or more will receive a complimentary limited-edition gift inspired by LABEL.M’s runway heritage
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Marks and Spencer will unveil its debut “see now, buy now” LFW show.
For more detailed information on each city and how to book tickets, please visit the full regional press kits here or visit the website.