Madrid, March 2 – Plaza de España has been chosen by the City Council, through its Madrid Capital de Moda program, and the Association of Fashion Designers of Spain (ACME) to host the inauguration of Madrid Fashion Week, which will take place from March 12 to 22, 2026. The opening parade of the major Spanish fashion event will be held on Thursday, March 12, marking the start of a calendar of catwalks and events located in various parts of the city, in addition to its usual venue at IFEMA Madrid.
Creative Avant-Garde Meets Cultural Heritage
Engracia Hidalgo, Delegate for Economy, Innovation, and Finance, made this announcement during the event’s presentation press conference, which also included the participation of ACME President Juan Duyos and IFEMA Madrid Vice President Daniel Martínez. In this new edition, Plaza de España will take over from emblematic capital locations such as Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de la Villa, and Plaza de Oriente, which have served as backdrops for the opening parades of this biannual meeting of author design.
According to Hidalgo, “the City Council continues its commitment to blending creative avant-garde with the capital’s cultural heritage, showcasing Madrid’s most iconic settings to the world – living spaces that are enjoyed and host major international events.” This parade “allows us to strengthen the global positioning of the capital, boost the creative industry, and consolidate fashion as a highly relevant sector for the city brand,” the delegate noted. Madrid Fashion Week solidifies the city’s position as one of the great fashion capitals, alongside Paris, Milan, New York, London, and Copenhagen, adding its unique characteristic of integrating professional catwalks and industry with the city and its inhabitants.
OMODA Madrid es Moda: Urban and Cultural Activation
Following the grand inaugural parade, the official calendar of Madrid Fashion Week will begin. Over 11 days, 72 designers and brands will showcase their creative proposals for the new season through parades, exhibitions, presentations, and cultural gatherings.
Between March 12 and 17, OMODA Madrid es Moda, the initiative to promote Spanish author fashion driven by ACME with municipal support, will deploy a program focused on urban, cultural, and civic activation. This includes parades and presentations in various locations across the city. This edition features 32 designers and brands, selected for their contribution to Spanish design and their ability to engage with the city’s urban and heritage environment. In total, there will be 18 parades and performances, eight exhibition presentations of new collections, and six complementary activities within the framework of OMODA Madrid es Moda HUB, a program of complementary activities that aims to connect creators, professionals, and the public through open days, meetings, and talks.
A retrospective of Davidelfin, a trunk show by Juan Avellaneda x See Iou, and a parade by Juana Martín will open the cycle on Thursday, March 12. On March 13, parades by Roberto Torretta, Daniel Chong, Oteyza, and Evade House will take place. On Saturday, March 14, Javier Delafuente will present a collection; on Monday, March 16, Devota & Lomba will present their proposals for the next autumn-winter season. Duyos’ parade will close this edition of OMODA Madrid es Moda.
OMODA Madrid es Moda will also feature the talent of Adlib Ibiza, Candelas y Felipa, Carlota Barrera, Dominnico, Eduardo Navarrete, E.R.A.X., Félix Ramiro, García Madrid, It-Spain, Isla Bonita Moda, Javier Delafuente, Luis Berrendero, Luis Infantes, Miguel Marinero, Mirto, Moisés Nieto, Paloma Suárez, Peñalver Brand, Pilar Dalbat, Roberto Verino, The 2nd Skin Co., and We Are Spastor.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid (MBFWMadrid) Innovations
Between March 17 and 22, it will be the turn of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid (MBFWMadrid), which consolidates itself in the 2026 edition as Spain’s main fashion catwalk with the participation of 40 designers. Under the institutional leadership of the Madrid City Council and in coordination with the organizing agents, MBFW evolves towards a hybrid catwalk model that integrates the city, the fairgrounds, and emerging talent. As a novelty, it extends its parade schedule to six full days.
The 2026 edition introduces a new programming model that combines OFF parades in emblematic urban spaces and professional parades at IFEMA Madrid. There will also be a specific day dedicated to the EGO catwalk, which celebrates its 20th anniversary supporting emerging talent and will feature the participation of ten designers and brands.
The international guest designer for this upcoming edition of Madrid Fashion Week will be Colombian Johanna Ortiz, one of the most internationally recognized talents who draws inspiration from the power of femininity and the craftsmanship of indigenous communities with whom she collaborates. She will present her collection at the Círculo de Bellas Artes.
On March 18, the Crystal Gallery of the Madrid City Council will become the catwalk for parades by Sophie et Voilá, Juan Vidal, Pedro del Hierro, Isabel Sanchís, and Claro Couture. Teresa Helbig will hold her parade at the Infanta Isabel Theater that same afternoon. The Spanish Railways Foundation will host the parades on March 19 at its headquarters, which include proposals from ManéMan, Ernesto Naranjo, Mans, Ynesuelves, Baro Lucas, The Label Edition, JCPajares, and Acromatyx.
On March 20, IFEMA Madrid will roll out its red carpet to welcome the parades of the following three days. On Friday, March 20, Coosy x Miguel Palacio, Simorra, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Hannibal Laguna, Erroz, Custo, Malne, and Maison Mesa will showcase their proposals.
On Saturday, March 21, Angel Schlesser, Menchen Tomas, Fely Campo, Odette Álvarez, Yolancris, and Lola Casademunt will be the protagonists of the catwalk, which will close its doors on Sunday, March 22, with parades by Caducifolium, Antonio Acuario, Eaftimos, Adrià Egea, Maikarfi, Maison Gracen, Mericusan, Pat Equilux, Pringa, and Bonet, within the framework of EGO, which will present its awards. In addition, within the framework of the annual institutional dinner held during MBFWM, the City Council will present the Madrid City Council International Award.
MBFWMadrid Awards and Economic Impact
In addition to the parades, and to mark the opening of MBFW Madrid, the Teatro Real will host, on March 17, ‘Opening Dinner by NARS,’ a gathering that will bring together designers, industry professionals, cultural leaders, and personalities who shape the social agenda. That night, three awards will be presented to recognize the transformative capacity of talent:
- MBFWM Award for National Designer: Awarded to Juan Vidal by the Madrid City Council, recognizing a career that has contributed to expanding the aesthetic identity of Spanish design and elevating its presence in the global imagination.
- MBFWM Award for International Designer: Awarded to Johanna Ortiz by the Madrid City Council, celebrating the vision of someone who has taken fashion beyond its borders, integrating culture, innovation, and sensitivity to connect with new audiences.
- NARS Icon Award: Awarded by Leandra Medine, this will distinguish a figure whose presence, authenticity, and visual magnetism have transcended the temporality of trends.
From an impact perspective, Madrid Fashion Week contributes to the revitalization of commerce, hospitality, tourism, and cultural services in the city, generating a positive impact on the urban fabric and reinforcing the Madrid brand as a creative, cultural, and cosmopolitan destination. The media visibility associated with the event also strengthens Madrid’s positioning as a European fashion capital and as a cultural and creative destination. In Madrid Fashion Week 2025, the economic impact of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is estimated at 80 million euros, to which another 8 million euros corresponding to the OMODA Madrid es Moda project should be added. In total, 88 million euros.
Municipal Support for the Fashion Industry
With the commitment to consolidate the capital’s impetus for the sector and its talent, the City Council offers its support by co-organizing Fashion Week, helping in its promotion through urban furniture, institutional networks, and on the Todo está en Madrid digital platform.
The City Council reaffirms its commitment to the sector through solid financial support for the main events on the calendar. In this edition, the City Council allocates 250,000 euros to the OMODA Madrid es Moda initiative, which is added to a contribution of 400,000 euros for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid. Of this amount, 150,000 euros are reserved for the creation and organization of two major awards that will recognize the professional careers of a national and an international designer. With this investment and the transfer of emblematic spaces, the capital is consolidated as a great stage open to global design and talent.
Additionally, for five years, the municipal government team has launched a line of subsidies to support designers’ participation in one of the two annual editions of Madrid Fashion Week. In 2025, the initial credit allocated to this aid was 650,000 euros, extendable by another 650,000 euros if budgetary availability exists, with a maximum amount to be granted per applicant of 20,000 euros: 10,000 euros per presentation with a maximum of two.
Source: https://diario.madrid.es/blog/notas-de-prensa/la-plaza-de-espana-acogera-el-desfile-inaugural-de-la-proxima-semana-de-la-moda-de-madrid/
