Everything you Need to Know before Copenhagen Fashion Week SS27

Celebrating its 20th consecutive year, Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) has recently matured from a regional event into one anticipated biannually amongst couture’s most influential calendars. First held in 2006 following the merger of Dansk Modeuge (Danish Fashion Week) and Dansk Herremodeuge (Danish Men's Fashion Week), the event organised by the Danish Fashion Institute continues to prove that avant garde and accountability can, and should, go hand in hand.

Operating as a non-profit organisation, CPHFW receives funding via a combination of public support and commercial partnerships, with the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs serving as its principal public contributor.

Each season ushers four days of runway shows, presentations and industry events to the Nordic metropolis, alongside the renowned Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF), Northern Europe's longest-running international fashion trade fair.

Commemorating its 67th year in 2026, CIFF welcomes nearly 2,000 brands annually and has become a leader in sustainable fashion circles, signing initiatives such as the Business of Fashion's #RewiringFashion initiative to encourage more environmentally conscious industry practices. Following the recent merger of Revolver into CIFF, the fair has expanded even further, including a dedicated children's section and a 25% increase in exhibition space, introduced in 2024.

Housed in what can only be described as Copenhagen's colossally impressive Bella Center, (what else would you term an exhibitionary arena spanning 121,800 sq metres), the venue is conveniently situated between the city centre and airport. Although CIFF itself remains strictly business-to-business — chiefly championing buyers, retailers, press and trade professionals — the city's vibrant atmosphere ensures everyone can experience the excitement surrounding fashion week, whether they are long term residents of the colourful capital, or simply killing time whilst awaiting a connecting flight.

Copenhagen’s SS27 season excitingly expects exhibitors ranging from heritage names including Barbour and Burberry Italia to promising newcomers such as avonté, who are set to debut premium unisex loungewear, consciously crafted from high-quality leftover fabrics from within the fashion industry.

One of the recurring defining characteristics of CPHFW is its commitment to sustainability. In 2018, advisory board In futurum was established to develop the event's sustainability framework. Brands applying for the official schedule must demonstrate that a minimum of 50% of their collections are made from certified, preferred, recycled or up-cycled materials, while simultaneously committing to supply chain due diligence.

Importantly, CPHFW is transparent about what these standards represent. Brands are screened against a minimum of 19 requirements by consultancy Rambøll, but organisers emphasise that complying with these criteria does not automatically certify a brand as "sustainable" or "eco-friendly." Instead, the framework is designed to encourage measurable progress rather than absolute claims.

Further strengthening its environmental ambitions, CPHFW SS27 partners with The Climate Pledge, supporting its mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 through cross-sector collaboration and climate-focused innovation, a decade ahead of the proposed Paris Agreement Target.

Fashion enthusiasts unable to attend in person can still enjoy the action through CPHFW’s social media channels. The approaching season’s creators —  April Lockhart, Kimberly Drew, and Lea Ogunlami, —  are set to co-host coverage across TikTok, Instagram and other platforms, recording everything from backstage banter and front-row fashion, to street style and designer presentations. The trio are not without their own impressive credentials, with Lockhart recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30, Drew famous for formerly managing MoMA’s social media accounts, and Ogunlami widely known for interviewing high-profile celebrities on red carpets worldwide.

The SS27 schedule (which can be found here) features 34 official runway shows and presentations. Returning favourites include Anne Sofie Madsen through the CPHFW NEWTALENT programme, presented by Pandora to support emerging Nordic designers.

Among this season's most anticipated runway moments is Institution, the 2026 Zalando Visionary Award winner and LVMH Prize finalist. Led by Azerbaijani designer Galib Gassanoff, the label blurs the line between fashion and art, with its collections featuring natural materials such as wool being sourced from luxury deadstock suppliers, whilst additionally pushing to preserve traditional Azerbaijani weaving techniques within their work. After debuting in Milan's Secci Art Gallery, Institution attends the upcoming Fashion Week with Zalando's fully funded support.

The socials surrounding CPHFW have been doing much to promote the event, especially on Instagram, where @CPHFW have been championing insightful conversations surrounding the season’s arrival, such as “Small talks - Big Conversations: The Rise of Modest Fashion”. Sponsored by Mercedes Benz Danmark and set to⁠ take place on the 6th of August, this is one of the multitude of “Industry Conversation’s” that remain central to the five day programme, with this specific dialogue discussing why the industry can “no longer afford” to overlook modest fashion.

CPHFW CEO Cecilie Thorsmark has predicted 2026 to entertain the event’s "largest attendance yet", and editorial hothouses have had their journalistic vanguard planned in line with this for months, with publications including Harper’s Bazaar, British Vogue, and WWD Japan, promising that the Scandinavian season’s biggest trends will rapidly metamorphose from runway to reading material.

Beyond the catwalks, Copenhagen continues to shine as a destination in its own right. After a day immersed in couture, the city’s dining scene offers the perfect finale. Plant-based favourite Baka d'Busk — founded by "The Plant Boys," sextet —  serves seasonal dishes inspired by locally grown produce, while Fabro Pasta remains a go-to gastronomical destination for authentic Italian cuisine. An apt amalgamation of fashion, food and forward-thinking concludes the menu for Copenhagen Fashion Week, hopefully leaving audiences much too satiated to think of dessert.

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