Melbourne Fashion Week 2025 tapped into the magic of the Wicked musical. This year, the week-long celebration returns with a 'Wear the Moment' theme, which embodies self-expression and inclusivity within the vibrant scene. From Monday, October 19–Sunday, October 25, expect over 100 M/FW events spilling into cultural venues, retail precincts and the city's streets. Designers will showcase over 600 looks on seven premium runways around town. The ganbu marra runway at the NGV, which is dedicated to First Nations-owned labels like Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, Kaninda and Van Ermel Scherer, kicks things off on Monday, October 19. The Cult Status Runway at State Library Victoria features underground designers on Wednesday, October 21. The Edit Runway celebrates all things feminine at Kensington's Younghusband on Thursday, October 22, before the precinct hosts the annual student show the next day. On Saturday, October 24, three free shows take place at City Square, including an all-new runway featuring looks from the Australian Open's athletic, on-court style. The week closes on Sunday, October 25 at 1 Hotel, weaving together the designers and communities defining Melbourne's cultural fabric. The fashion frenzy extends beyond the usual circuit of headlining runways and into 30 independent events spanning book fairs, public exhibitions and pop-ups. We've rounded up seven other activities to hit up throughout M/FW 2026. Independent runways Independent runways are a quieter way to explore the offbeat side of M/FW. Start with Emerging Artists Collective, a M/FW regular spotlighting 20 rising designers across three shows at the Immigration Museum on Tuesday, October 20. On Friday, October 23, Raffaele Ciuca marks 70 years with a luxury bridal runway at the cultural hub. The Brunswick bridal house is known for carrying designs from the world's most sought-after dressmakers such as Vivienne Westwood, Vera Wang and Steven Khalil. Aron Katona will bring circus-inspired couture to The Sheraton on Saturday, October 24, alongside glamorous creations from a lineup of local couture designers. For sustainability champions, a pair of events might pique your interest: Amnesty ACRUX: Stitched Up, a high-fashion runway at The Motley Wherehaus on Wednesday, October 21, where designers meditate on a 2025 Amnesty International Australia report on the exploitation of South Asian garment workers; and two Dress to Express Melbourne 2026 showcases celebrate both donated garments and wearable tech. Above It All On Wednesday, 21 October, Good Heavens will transform into a thrift store. Browse racks of preloved womenswear and menswear with a 1800 Tequila cocktail on arrival, light snacks and DJ sets to keep the energy high. When in doubt, approach colour stylist Coral Carretero for a live colour analysis to point you in the right direction. Entry costs $60, with $10 going to Victorian job-seeking non-profit Ready Set. You'll also stand a chance to win six partner prizes, including a $600 branding shoot with Carmen Zammit Photography, a $350 session with Coral and a $300 Good Heavens bar voucher. Public exhibitions During M/FW, style oozes out of every corner of Melbourne's buildings and streets. Five Fashion Capsules are already popping up in surprise locations around town. Each glass-walled capsule has a distinct theme spotlighting local creatives, such as contemporary creations from First Nations designers in City Square's Sisterhood and Spear Grass and the futuristic Fashion Futures on Collins Square featuring next-generation talent. ZINC Australian Archival: Australian Fashion History is a free three-day exhibition landing at the Nicholas Building on Thursday, October 22. The archive follows the country's most influential designers, from the bold creativity of Sara Thorn and Bruce Slorach in the 1980s to the 2000s revolution with Tsubi and Sass & Bide. Chin Chin will project a film by RMIT Bachelor of Fashion graduate Zain Bleed out onto Higson Lane every night throughout M/FW 2026. Flying Sheep explores trans identity and gender norms through romantic silk clothing on a sheep farm. For another free film rec, catch an afternoon screening of The Art of Pleating — an hour-long film rooted in the 2025 closure of Victoria's last commercial pleater — on Wednesday, October 21. Out of Fashion Book Fair Put on your go-to bookshop fit and head to ACMI's Out of Fashion Book Fair from 11am–3pm on Saturday, October 24. Expect vintage and brand-new printed material from independent booksellers and publishers about fashion history and visual culture, down to the most esoteric references. Kowtow Presents: AU & NZ Designer Clothes Swap You've refreshed your bookshelf, but what about your wardrobe? On Saturday, October 24, Kowtow is also hosting a preloved designer swap. Until Monday, October 19, participants can bring up to five second-hand designer items from Australian or New Zealand designers to Kowtow's Fitzroy store. It's a token system: each accepted item can be redeemed for another piece on swap day. SELDOM x CVBIN x Salon Archive Pop-Up Vintage hunters already know Salon Archive in the Nicholas Building as a mecca for Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano. From Thursday, October 22, it gets even better. Tokyo-based archive stores SELDOM and CVBIN will take over the intimate space for a four-day pop-up as part of their Asia and Oceania tour, bringing a collection of rare wares sourced from across Japan and Europe. Crafty workshops This year, industry pros are coming out to play at nine workshops during M/FW. If you're on the hunt for a creative after-work activity, waterproof jewellery maker Fencesetter is bringing a selection of beautiful beads made from plastic bottle tops to a bag charm beading workshop in Carlton on Thursday, October 22. For something more intricate, sip on bubbles and learn foundational jewellery-making techniques with freshwater pearls, natural gemstones and other high-end materials from Silent Dove on Friday, October 23. Over the weekend, Aleaf Studio is hosting a block printing workshop where you can customise any linen or cotton garment – BYO or purchase one for $10 – with South Asian-inspired block paints. Melbourne Fashion Week 2026 runs from Monday, October 19–Sunday, October 25. Visit the website for the full program. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images supplied.