Two Decades on, Copenhagen Fashion Week Breathes New Life into Old Classics for its AW26 Edition

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — Amid all the differing opinions and actions regarding the flows in the global fashion sector, it’s easy to overlook the time and talent it takes for clothes to be made. At Copenhagen Fashion Week, now in its twentieth year, the known Scandi-like fashion frisson that has seduced so many designers of both menswear and womenswear has struck them from a different angle this season.

Forget all the throngs of colour-heavy aficionados on the hunt for the next viral moment (even though there were just a few): upon glimpsing the streets and in designers’ showrooms, Fall 2026 was a season that compelled creatives to think differently. In their demonstrations, in fact, you could sense a vibe shift that wasn’t aimed at mere coolness – but there was a broader focus on function, executed with a degree of polish that had the potential to attract end customers.

Collections didn’t stray too far from what have become their comfort zone: they kept buoyancy and flamboyance, establishing tonality by layering (albeit not always successfully) sheers over sharply cut separates. Previously, these were designers who achieved acclaim with simple textures.

For Fall, they shifted up a gear and developed clothes for the troubled pace of our times, with lots of bonus points for wearability and functionality. The yearn for fluidity and practical-driven technicality marked a departure of sorts from their previous exploration of form: one could see how they had collapsed silhouettes, drawing out a commercial ease that jibed nicely with a transitional offering.

Beyond the material underpinnings, there were moments of depth and winsome introspection; chief amongst them Nazzal Studio’s outing, which paid homage to the designer’s Palestinian identity through a quiet manifesto of activism and craftsmanship that was refreshing to see up north.

Overall, this season led to more finesse, and the garments’ focus—from the reinterpretation of fabrics to the understated tones—suggests that these designers increasingly realise the impact of restraint juxtaposed by a playful edge. Below, peruse GLASS’ edit of the best looks from the Fall 2026 edition of Copenhagen Fashion Week and keep up with your favourite designers. You’re welcome.