2025/02/19
In the last few years, Budapest Central European Fashion Week (BCEFW) has become one of the most important fashion events in the region, and the 15th season celebrated Central European fashion from the 10th to the 16th of February with more diverse programmes than ever and new international collaborations. The jubilee event attracted a record number of visitors: 6000 people attended the fashion shows, with international journalists, distributors, and fashion industry experts joining the event from 13 countries to discover regional and Hungarian talents. In addition to the autumn-winter collections of nearly 50 fashion brands, emerging talents and renowned fashion icons were also in the spotlight.
In addition to supporting the domestic and regional fashion scene, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) has taken significant steps in international collaborations and further expanded the list of its strategic partners with agencies organising fashion weeks in neighbouring countries. As a result, besides Hungarian fashion brands, Czech, Slovakian, Serbian, Slovenian, Romanian, and Polish brands’ collections were unveiled at the 15th BCEFW. A total of 27 Hungarian and 20 international designers displayed more than 500 outfits on the runways, with shows consistently at full capacity.
The three-day series of fashion shows started on Friday in the Apollo Gallery, with regional collective shows and young Hungarian talents showcasing their works. A meeting between contemporary fine arts and fashion industry novelties offered visitors a special experience in the gallery. The runway was lined with works by painter István Dukai, which the contemporary artist complemented with unique prints tailored to the event's branding. The weekend fashion shows took place at Millenáris, where attendees could explore the autumn/winter collections of brands with a strong presence in the domestic market, as well as those focused on the international market.
The 15th BCEFW enjoyed exceptional popularity, with 6000 people attending the fashion shows. Video content about the events was followed by tens of thousands of viewers online across BCEFW’s social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Thanks to intense media interest, around 60 domestic media outlets covered the event, while international buyers and journalists of leading magazines from 13 countries attended, including representatives from the Czech, Polish, and Ukrainian Vogue and Vogue Adria, Slovenian and Romanian ELLE, Forbes UK, Dazed Korea, Fashion United UK, L’Officiel Austria, and Al Arabiya TV. The international guests, including renowned industry professionals, distributors, and journalists, had the opportunity to explore Budapest's rich cultural scene besides the latest collections.
Several Hungarian celebrities attended the jubilee event, wearing the designers’ collections in the first rows or walking the runway as models. Actress Franciska Törőcsik, for example, participated as a model in the MERO fashion show, and Olympic champion pentathlete Michelle Gulyás contributed to the success of the RICHARD DEMETER show as a model.
The AW2526 season placed even greater focus than before on the iconic figures of the past, present, and future. While emerging talents in the fashion scene were in the spotlight on Friday, the event series concluded with renowned representatives of the Hungarian fashion industry’s history on Sunday. At the final show, among the guests were several models who have built successful careers both domestically and internationally: Dalma Etter, Bernadett Gáspár, Kinga Józsa-Kovács, Kinga Kincses, Judit Liebhaber, Gabi Lukács, and Enikő Sütő.
In line with one of HFDA’s main strategic objectives, increasing the prestige of creative industry professions played a key role at BCEFW. Due to the collaboration with vocational training institutes and universities, this year, nearly 160 students from 11 schools had the opportunity to participate in the shows, gaining insight into the practical side of the creative industry, contributing to their professional growth and the foundation of their career paths.
“The 15th Budapest Central European Fashion Week perfectly encapsulated everything that defines the development of the regional fashion scene: respect for traditions, openness to innovation, the importance of international partnerships, and strengthening the industry’s heritage alongside supporting young talents,” said Zsófia Jakab, Ministerial Commissioner for the Creative Industry and CEO of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, about the event. "Seeing the continuous development over the past 15 seasons, I believe that BCEFW has achieved its initial goal and become the leading fashion industry event in the region, bridging the gap between the local and global fashion worlds. And this can provide opportunities for the whole creative industry in the future,” added the Ministerial Commissioner.
The event’s sustainability efforts became even more important this year. Several side events focused on recycling and an environmentally conscious mindset in the industry, with five brands appearing on the runway under the Conscious by BCEFW label. To promote environmental awareness, BCEFW placed shoe and textile waste collection containers at Millenáris, in collaboration with MOHU MOL Waste Management Ltd., providing an opportunity throughout the weekend for the responsible disposal of used textiles. Thanks to the initiative, a full container of shoes and clothing was collected for recycling.
The weekend programs extended beyond the world of runways. At the National Dance Theatre, Fashion Hub offered 11 diverse professional events and exciting workshops covering topics from sustainability and streetwear trends to innovations in the fashion and beauty industry. A total of 500 visitors participated in these engaging sessions.
In the central area, open to the public, visitors could watch fashion presentations by 10 domestic and international designers and browse products from 9 Hungarian accessory and beauty brands.Meanwhile, more diverse programmes accompanied Fashion Week than ever, with nearly 50 locations hosting various showroom openings, pop-up events, roundtable discussions, and exclusive fashion shows, connecting Budapest’s cultural and fashion industry scenes.
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About the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency
The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency was founded in 2018 to support every actor in the fashion and design industries in an efficient and structured way, following predetermined strategic pillars: professional coordination, enhancing Hungarian brands’ availability and trade opportunities, educational development and manufacturing development. To realise their goals, HFDA organises domestic events each year, such as the region’s major fashion event, the Budapest Central European Fashion Week, or the 360 Design Budapest exhibition, which has received international awards. Besides, they provide Hungarian creators opportunities for participation and debuting at international professional events such as the Milano Fashion Week. Their primary tasks include strategic cooperation with professional organisations, increasing exports, and supporting Hungarian brands’ professional development with their mentoring programmes.
Budapest Central European Fashion Week
Since its foundation in 2018, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency has been organising the Budapest Central European Fashion Week twice a year, the main fashion event of the Central European region. For many years, the event has been the number one meeting point between the broad audience, buyers, designers, influencers and domestic and international media in the region. Hungarian fashion and design industry events increase the country’s tourist attraction and national economic growth, provide visibility for Hungarian brands,
© Creative Hungary. 2026. Minden jog fenntartva.
