As the year's fashion calendar winds down, London's industry gathers for the British Fashion Council's biggest evening. The Fashion Awards 2026 take place on Monday 30 November at the Royal Albert Hall, and the shortlists announced on 16 September already tell a story about who has shaped the year.
The BFC describes the event as "the world's biggest fashion fundraiser", and says it funds the council's work to "support, defend and promote British fashion globally".
Here is the full list of nominees, how the winners are decided and what to watch between now and the night.
The key facts
- Date: Monday 30 November 2026
- Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London
- Organiser: British Fashion Council (BFC)
- Nominees announced: 16 September 2026, in four categories
- Winners: announced on the night
The nominees
The BFC lists nominees in alphabetical order. Its own wording for each award is quoted below.
Designer of the Year
For "a British or international designer who has made an outstanding impact on the global fashion industry in 2026".
- Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent
- Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
- Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford
- Matthieu Blazy for Chanel
- Michael Rider for Celine
- Sarah Burton for Givenchy
British Womenswear Designer of the Year
- Clare Waight Keller for Uniqlo
- Erdem Moralıoğlu for Erdem
- Louise Trotter for Bottega Veneta
- Sarah Burton for Givenchy
- Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
British Menswear Designer of the Year
- Foday Dumbuya for Labrum
- Kiko Kostadinov for Kiko Kostadinov
- Nick Wakeman for Studio Nicholson
- Simon Holloway for Dunhill
- Simone Rocha for Simone Rocha
Vanguard
For "a designer at the forefront of a new wave in British fashion who is shaping the future of the industry".
- Conner Ives
- Ellie Misner
- Steve O Smith
- Tolu Coker
A Special Recognition Award for Sandra Choi
Alongside the shortlists, the BFC has announced that Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo, will receive a Special Recognition Award. The council noted that Choi has shaped the brand since joining in 1996 and called her "among the longest-serving creative directors in the industry".
"Fashion is never the work of one person; it is built through creativity, craft, collaboration, and a shared belief in making something meaningful," Choi said in the BFC's announcement. Laura Weir, the BFC's chief executive, called her "one of fashion's most respected creative leaders".
How the winners are chosen
The shortlists were drawn up by a jury of 18 critics, editors and buyers. They are now put to a wider Voting Committee of industry figures, who cast confidential votes to decide each award, according to the BFC.
This year's jury includes Sarah Mower, chief critic at Vogue Runway; Kenya Hunt, editor-in-chief of ELLE UK; Teo van den Broeke, editor-in-chief of Esquire UK; Laura Weir of the BFC; and buying and retail leaders from Selfridges, Harrods, Liberty and LN-CC.
What to watch
Two double nominees
Two designers appear twice. Sarah Burton is up for both Designer of the Year and British Womenswear Designer for her work at Givenchy, the house where she won British Womenswear Designer last year. Simone Rocha is nominated for both the womenswear and the menswear awards for her own label.
First-time contenders, and a notable absence
The Business of Fashion noted that Haider Ackermann, Anthony Vaccarello and the Olsens are first-time nominees for Designer of the Year. It also noted that Jonathan Anderson, who won the award for the third year in a row in 2025, is missing from this year's list in his first year as creative director of Dior.
That leaves the top prize open. One storyline is already written: Saint Laurent confirmed Vaccarello's departure from the house this month, after a decade, as we reported in our round-up of creative director changes. For Blazy's first year in figures, read Chanel, one year into the Blazy era.
The British awards
The womenswear list mixes major houses and brands with independent labels. Louise Trotter is shortlisted for Bottega Veneta, where she succeeded Blazy, and Clare Waight Keller for Uniqlo. Erdem and Simone Rocha are nominated for their own houses. On the menswear side, Simon Holloway is nominated for Dunhill, the list's only long-established house; the other four nominees are recognised for labels they founded.
Last year's winners
At the 2025 ceremony, on 1 December, the BFC named:
- Designer of the Year: Jonathan Anderson, for Dior and JW Anderson
- British Womenswear Designer: Sarah Burton, for Givenchy
- British Menswear Designer: Grace Wales Bonner, for Wales Bonner
- Vanguard: Dilara Findikoglu
- Outstanding Achievement: Brunello Cucinelli
- Model of the Year: Anok Yai
Chanel also received a Special Recognition Award marking 100 years in the UK, and Delphine Arnault received a Special Recognition Award.
How to follow it
Ticket information is on the BFC's Fashion Awards site, and Casadi's event listing carries the date and venue. We'll report the winners after the ceremony. For the season's runway context, see our reports on London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Fashion Awards 2026?
Monday 30 November 2026, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Who is nominated for Designer of the Year 2026?
Anthony Vaccarello (Saint Laurent), Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen (The Row), Haider Ackermann (Tom Ford), Matthieu Blazy (Chanel), Michael Rider (Celine) and Sarah Burton (Givenchy).
Who won Designer of the Year in 2025?
Jonathan Anderson, for Dior and JW Anderson. BoF reported it was his third consecutive win.
How are the winners chosen?
A jury of 18 critics, editors and buyers chose the shortlists. A wider Voting Committee of industry figures casts confidential votes to choose the winners.
Are the Fashion Awards the same as the British Fashion Awards?
Yes. The ceremony was long known as the British Fashion Awards and is now run by the British Fashion Council as The Fashion Awards.
Featured image: David Iliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped for this page; the cropped version is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 licence.
